Vol. 456 No. 3
61 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for Health his views on the embargo on recruitment of new General Medical Service doctors in view of the fact that medical card holders in expanding residential areas are often left without a local doctor to service their needs; the action, if any, he has taken to ensure genuine local coverage for the choice of doctor scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13699/95]
Limerick East): The responsibility for ensuring the adequacy of general practitioner services for medical card holders rests with the chief executive officer of the relevant health board.
The appointment of general practitioners to posts in the GMS scheme forms part of an agreement reached with the Irish Medical Organisation on the terms and conditions for the provision of a general practitioner service to eligible persons. The decision to fill a vacancy or create a new post in the scheme is a matter for the chief executive officer of the relevant health board following consultation with the organisation.
In making a decision on the filling of a vacancy or the creation of a new post within the scheme, the agreement requires the chief executive officer to take the following considerations into account:
(a) the provision of a proper level of access to general practitioner services for medical card patients;
(b) that patients have a reasonable degree of choice in selecting their practitioner and
(c) that due regard is given to the question of the viability of general practices in the area in question.
