asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners who are regularly involved in the supply of services within our public and private hospitals; and if he foresees an increased role for general practitioners in hospitals in the future.
Written Answers. - General Practitioner Services.
282.
From the figures available to me there are some 180 general practitioners providing services regularly to health board hospitals and voluntary hospitals. Figures are not available in relation to private hospitals as the arrangements here are a matter between the institutions themselves and the general practitioners.
I do not currently see an increased role for general practitioners in the hospital area although an increasing number of such doctors may become involved at certain levels of the hospital service, for example, in general practitioner access schemes whereby groups of local GPs may provide services for patients in district hospitals under an agreement with the local health board.