Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 4 Nov 1992

Vol. 424 No. 9

Written Answers. - General Medical Service.

Paul McGrath

Ceist:

70 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Health the average number of medical card patients and the average annual income which GPs participating in the general medical service have resulting from the new contract which was introduced in March 1989.

Paul McGrath

Ceist:

71 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Health the average number of medical care patients and the average annual income which GPs participating in the general medical service had prior to the introduction of the new contract in March 1989.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Connell)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 70 and 71 together.

Statistics regarding the numbers of medical card patients and the incomes of general medical services general practitioners are collated by the General Medical Services (Payments) Board and reported on an annual basis. The position prior to March 1989 is derived from the payments board report ending 31 December 1988, the last full year before the new contract. The position resulting from the new contract after March 1989 is derived from the payments board report ending 31 December 1990, the first full year after the new contract. Figures for the year ending 31 December 1991 follow:

	Average number of Medical Card patients per G.M.S. G.P.	Average Annual Payments to Doctors in respect of G.M.S. patients
		£
Prior to New Contract — Year ending 31/12/88	845	28,244
Following the Introduction of New Contract — Year ending 31/12/90	774	33,945
Figures for Year ending 31/12/91	780	35,345