Vol. 248 No. 14
andMr. Ryan asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement on the present position of the negotiations between him and the medical profession concerning the mode of remuneration of doctors operating public health services; in particular if he will state whether agreement has been reached; and, if so, if he will now furnish details.
6.
asked the Minister for Health when he expects to reach an agreement with the medical profession on the method and rates of payment for doctors providing services under the Health Act.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I will take Questions Nos.5 and 6 together. I assume both relate to the payment of doctors under the reorganised general medical service.
After discussions over several months on an offer which I made on 1st January last, I have conveyed a substantially increased final offer on the scale of fees to the medical organisations. With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I will have included in the official record particulars of the scale now proposed for operation at the start of the service.
I have asked that the organisations send this offer, with a letter which I have issued detailing factors affecting it, to their members. The results of the organisations' consideration of this is now awaited. I have asked that they inform me of this at an early date as it is desirable that the further detailed work, including the preparation of regulations and agreements, should now be pushed ahead.
I should mention that the negotiations have resulted in substantial concurrence with the medical organisations on the other aspects of the new service, including the conditions for admission of existing practitioners into it. In particular, detailed guarantees have been given to permanent district medical officers as respects remuneration, superannuation rights, continuity of tenure of residences and the conditions for continued access, where appropriate, to existing health centres or dispensaries.
Following is the statement:
Reorganised General Medical Services.
Scale of Fees offered to General Medical Practitioners.
|
£ |
s. |
d. |
|
|
Surgery consultations: |
|||
|
(a) normal hours |
15 |
0 |
|
|
(b) outside normal hours, other than (c) |
1 |
2 |
6 |
|
(c) Midnight to 8 a.m. |
2 |
5 |
0 |
|
Domiciliary consultations: |
|||
|
(a) Normal hours— |
|||
|
urban |
1 |
2 |
6 |
|
up to 3 miles |
1 |
2 |
6 |
|
3—5 miles |
1 |
10 |
0 |
|
5—7 miles |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
7—10 miles |
2 |
10 |
0 |
|
over 10 miles |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
(b) Outside normal hours, other than (c) |
£ |
s. |
d |
|
urban |
1 |
10 |
0 |
|
up to 3 miles |
1 |
10 |
0 |
|
3—5 miles |
1 |
17 |
6 |
|
5—7 miles |
2 |
10 |
0 |
|
7—10 miles |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
over 10 miles |
3 |
10 |
0 |
|
(c) Midnight to 8 a.m. |
|||
|
urban |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
up to 3 miles |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
3—5 miles |
3 |
15 |
0 |
|
5—7 miles |
4 |
5 |
0 |
|
7—10 miles |
4 |
15 |
0 |
|
over 10 miles |
5 |
5 |
0 |
|
Emergency Fees (treatment of a patient not on the doctors' list): |
|||
|
An additional 15/- on the normal fee. |
Can the Minister say if he is hopeful that his latest offer to the medical profession will be acceptable to them?
Yes, I am hopeful that it will be accepted.
In the event of the offer not being accepted is the Minister prepared to increase this offer?
I have made this a final offer, so I am not prepared to say anything about what would happen if the offer is turned down.
Would the Minister not agree that, if his offer is not acceptable and he cannot negotiate any further with the medical profession, the operation of the Health Act will have to be postponed?
The Deputy is presuming events that may not occur. I have had very amicable and continual discussions with the Irish Medical Association and the Irish Medical Union. I do not propose to go beyond what I have said to the Deputy now.
