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Health Services Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 September 2020

Tuesday, 8 September 2020

Questions (1152)

David Cullinane

Question:

1152. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing out of hours and rural general practitioner services by 10%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21467/20]

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Written answers

It is not possible to estimate the cost of increasing out of hours services or rural GP services by 10%, as to estimate the cost of increasing the level of service provided would require an increase in the number of GPs providing out of hours services and an increase in the number of rural GPs. GPs are independent private contractors who receive payments directly from private patients, most GPs also hold (GMS) contracts and receive a range of payments from the HSE in relation to the services they provide to medical card and GP visit card holders. In addition to fact that as private contractors GPs choose the location where they wish to establish themselves, it is not possible to calculate costs on a per GP basis due to the large number of known and unknown variables involved.

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