asked the Minister for Health the number of doctors whose earnings from the general medical services are (i) over £13,000 (ii) £12,000-£13,000 (iii) £11,000-£12,000 (iv) £10,000-£11,000 per annum; and, in respect of each of these categories, the number of (a) GMS patients and (b) medical assistants each doctor has.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Doctors' Earnings.
28.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to give the reply, including the information at (a) in the form of a table to be circulated with the Official Report.
Regarding part (b) of the question, I do not have the information requested by the Deputy.
Following is the table:
TABLE of doctors' earnings from the general medical services within specified categories for the period 1st July, 1973 to 30th June, 1974.
|
£10,000 to £11,000 |
£11,000 to £12,000 |
£12,000 to £13,000 |
Over £13,000 |
|
|
No. of doctors |
33 |
19 |
9 |
23 |
|
Average No. of C.M.S. Patients per doctor in each categorv |
1,867 |
1,995 |
2,361 |
2,037 |
In view of the fact that a doctor's panel is supposed to be limited to 2,000 people, if it exceeds that number, is there not an obligation on the Minister to be satisfied that there are assistants to carry out the work?
There is no provision in the agreement with the medical organisations for the employment of an assistant. I am aware that there are many doctors who have assistants but I cannot say how many assistants there are because they are not officially recognised as participating in the choice of doctor scheme.
Will the Minister not agree that in issuing information or making statements on the incomes of doctors in fairness to the doctors the public should know how many assistants they may have drawing on their salaries?
I know there are assistants but I have no official information as to how many of them.
Would the Minister consider getting it?
The Deputy will appreciate from newspaper reports that such a matter is the subject of discussion between the Department and the medical associations at present.
Does the Minister propose to make provision for assistants to doctors who are in the scheme or will be in the scheme in future? Is he concerned about the indefinite prospects for doctors who are employed as assistants by doctors who are in the scheme but who, because of the existing regulations, are excluded from becoming part of the scheme? Many of them have come home from abroad with their families. They feel that the Minister has shown very little concern for their position.
As I said to Deputy H. Gibbons, I do not want to anticipate the results of negotiations and discussions which are at present going on between the medical organisations and officials of my Department, but this is under consideration.