General Practitioner Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 February 2022

Tuesday, 8 February 2022

Questions (598)

Martin Browne

Question:

598. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners currently participating in the out-of-hours service by area; the number of hours that they provide to the service on a weekly, monthly and annual basis; the current status of the general practitioner contract; and the progress that has been made in relation to the obligation to provide general practitioner out-of-hours care in tabular form. [5824/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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. Out of hours medical cover is usually between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m. Monday to Friday and 24 hours on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays.

The 2019 GP Agreement on Service Development and Contractual Reform includes a commitment to undertake a strategic review of GP services within the lifetime of the Agreement, to examine how best to ensure the provision of GP services, including out of hours services, in Ireland for the future. The outcome of this review will inform future contractual changes, with preparatory work for the review having begun this year.

In relation to the number of GPs participating in out of hours service and the hours provided, as these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.