asked the Minister for Health if he intends restricting the entry of general practitioners to the general medical service scheme as part of the embargo on the public service, if he has established figures of general practitioners in the general medical service which he would see as an absolute ceiling; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Recruitment of General Practitioners.
284.
The Minister for Finance in his budget statement on 31 March 1987 said that no vacancy within the Public Service may be filled without the express approval of the Minister concerned with the consent of the Minister for Finance.
In line with this decision on 23 April 1987 my Department issued instructions to health agencies in relation to the Government's decision on the non-filling of vacancies.
Essentially the decision to initiate a proposal to fill any vacancy in the choice of doctor scheme rests with health boards who will in making the decision to seek approval for such a course of action have regard to whether the filling of the vacancy is essential.
While no absolute ceiling for the number of general practitioner contractors in the GMS has ever been specified by the Department, there is clearly a practical limit to the number of doctors required to provide services under the GMS scheme.