Richard Bruton
Question:209. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if it is part of health policy to promote out-of-hour general practitioner relief services nationwide. [62281/21]
View answerWednesday, 15 December 2021
Questions (209)
Written answers
GPs contracted under the General Medical Services Scheme are required by their contract to make suitable arrangements to enable contact to be made with them, or a locum or deputy, for emergencies outside of normal practice hours. While there is no obligation on GPs to participate in GP out of hours co-operatives as a means of meeting the contractual requirement, such services facilitate the provision of GP services outside of normal surgery hours and help to spread the burden of this provision. A small number of areas are not covered by GP out of hours co-operatives, instead out of hours services are provided by local GPs.
GP out of hours cooperatives are private organisations. The HSE provides funding to support out of hours co-operative services through service level agreements. Decisions on co-operative funding are made by the HSE, and must be determined in the context of the availability of resources and the competing demands for health service funding generally.
In recognition of the key role GP out of hours service providers play in the delivery of our health service and the challenges arising from the Covid-19 pandemic, a financial and service stability arrangement for GP out of hours co-operatives was introduced with effect from 14th March 2020.
Patients should contact their local GP out of hours service provider when in need of urgent GP services, routine appointments should be made with the patient’s GP during normal practice hours.