Liz McManus
Ceist:517 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children his plans to ensure there is full cover provided by doctor-on-call services providing out of hours service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1376/02]
Written Answers. - General Practitioner Service.
General practitioners who hold GMS contracts are obliged to ensure that an out of hours service is available to their patients. The doctor can either provide this service him-herself or make alternative arrangements. In some areas commercial deputising services are available. In addition, most health boards have facilitated the establishment of out of hours co-operatives.
The overall position is as follows: in the Eastern Regional Health Authority area a limited general practitioner service from the sites of St. James's Hospital (DubDoc) and St. Vincent's Hospital (EastDoc) together with the KDoc general practitioner co-operative which operates in the South-Western Area Health Board area of the authority based at Naas. KDoc, North EastDoc – the North-Eastern Health Board – CareDoc – the South-Eastern Health Board – SouthDoc – the Southern Health Board – and NOWDoc – the North-Western health Board – all provide general practitioner cover for the hours of operation of their respective co-ops, which is normally evenings, weekends and public holidays but normally for the patients of the doctors participating in the co-ops.
The Deputy may wish to note that 10 million was made available in budget 2002 for the further development of out of hours co-operatives during the current year. In terms of further future development, the primary care strategy document, A New Direction, details the manner in which the availability of patient-centred primary care services in an out of hours context will be developed.