asked the Minister for Health the payments which are made to consultants when medical card patients are referred to their hospital clinics by general practitioners; and if it is a condition of these payments that the consultants should see the patient.
Written Answers. - Payments to Medical Consultants.
271.
Where a patient who is in possession of a medical card is referred to an out patient clinic no charge is levied on the patient unless the person opts to attend the clinic as a private patient.
Consultants are remunerated on the basis of their contractual commitments to the hospital in accordance with rates of remuneration approved by my Department. According to the contractual arrangements each consultant may discharge his continuing responsibility for patients directly in a personal relationship with his patient, or, in the exercise of his professional judgment he may delegate aspects of the patient's care to other appropriate staff.