Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 December 2022
520. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure the replacement of a general practitioner service in Cork (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60187/22]
View answerGPs are self-employed practitioners and therefore may establish practices at a place of their own choosing. There is no prescribed ratio of GPs to patients and the State does not regulate the number of GPs that can set up in a town or community.
Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. Where a vacancy arises in a practice with a GMS contract, the HSE becomes actively involved in the recruitment process to find a replacement GP. In the interim the HSE puts in place a locum or other appropriate arrangement to maintain GP services to the communities in question.
As the issue of GMS vacancies is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly regarding the potential closure of the GP service concerned in Cork, as soon as possible.
