Vol. 255 No. 8
asked the Minister for Health if the Government are prepared to provide such facilities as waiting rooms, X-ray rooms and small laboratories in cases where doctors have a group medical service or to make grants for the provision of such facilities.
8.
asked the Minister for Health the number of areas in the country in which doctors have a group medical service and a rota system; and if it is the Government's intention to encourage this desirable practice.
I propose with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 7 and 8 together.
I am not aware of the number of areas in which doctors have established group practices but it is my policy to encourage this trend. I am empowering health boards under the choice of doctor scheme commencing next year to give grants for the improvement or extension of practice premises. The grants will be increased in relation to the number of doctors in practice together, and will be related mainly to improved waiting room and surgery accommodation for patients.
As far as grants for X-ray rooms and laboratories are concerned I would prefer to wait the findings of the proposed advisory body on general medical practice which I am in the course of establishing.
Could the Minister give any indication of what percentage the grant will be?
In the case of group practice, the health board will give grants of 50 per cent of the cost of the approved work subject to a maximum of £1,000 for three doctors, increasing by £250 in respect of each additional doctor in the practice.
I take it that it is the Minister's intention to give every encouragement to this very welcome scheme.
Of course, I await further advice from this advisory committee. In reply to the Deputy, most of the expert advice I can get from the Royal General College of Practitioners and from other similar bodies indicates that a group practice will grow inevitably in our present circumstances in relation to the training of doctors.
Is the Minister aware that under this scheme he has not provided for grants for new buildings but has provided merely for extensions and improvements? Would he consider having that matter reviewed because there is a need for grants for new buildings so as to encourage group practice?
I think the Deputy is speaking of something else for which I hope to find the capital eventually, namely, the establishment of more health centres built specially for group practice. That is another matter altogether.
Would the Minister not agree that in view of the generous payment which he has agreed with the medical profession group practitioners should equip their own professional premises in the same way as any other profession and should not look to the State for subvention?
No, I think the subvention was inevitable. The subventions will not amount to any great sum. The total cost envisaged in the next two or three years would be about £150,000 and health costs in this country are £76 million. The Deputy can hardly suggest that that is an extravagant offer.
