asked the Minister for Health if doctor's calls to the house of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7 are covered under the medical card scheme, as this person is a widow living alone; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefit.
101.
A medical practitioner participating in the GMS scheme is obliged to provide services, as the circumstances may require, at his surgery or at the person's home or at another place approved by the health board within his area of practice. The medical practitioner is required to be available for consultations by eligible persons on his list at his surgery or for domiciliary visiting by agreement with the relevant health board. Furthermore, the medical practitioner is required to make arrangements for contact to be made with him or his deputy when he is not available.
Under the new terms and conditions in the GMS, domiciliary consultations carried out between the hours of 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. other than in the course of routine surgery arrangements attract an additional fee which varies in line with a distance factor. I understand from the Eastern Health Board that the person mentioned by the Deputy is the holder of a current medical card and, therefore, is entitled to general practitioner services on the terms outlined above. If she has difficulty in this respect she might contact the Eastern Health Board.