Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 July 2011
684 Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time GPs registered with the Irish Medical Council in 2011 and in 2006; the breakdown by terms of general, specialist and training registers; if he will list the number of new GP registrations that have been granted by the council each year since 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22343/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe following information has been supplied by the Medical Council which is the statutory body charged with the responsibility for registration and regulation of medical practitioners in this State. General Practice is a specialty recognised by the Medical Council. As such, practitioners can make application to be registered in the Specialist Division of the Register, as specified by the Medical Practitioners Act 2007, having met the requirements to be so registered. A practitioner in the Trainee Specialist Division would only be recognised as a specialist in General Practice upon completion of training recognised by the Council.
The following table shows the number of medical practitioners who were registered with the Council, at the dates specified, who held specialist registration in the specialty of General Practice.
|
Number of Registrants |
Net Movement |
|
|
January 2006 |
613 |
|
|
January 2007 |
656 |
43 |
|
January 2008 |
1,319 |
663 |
|
January 2009 |
1,626 |
307 |
|
January 2010 |
1,907 |
281 |
|
December 2010 |
2,270 |
363 |
|
As at 19th July 2011 |
2,227 |
-43 |
685 Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Health if he will list the total number of GPs who currently have State contracts and specify in tabular form the full spectrum of State contracts currently administered, the corresponding number of GPs engaged in each type of contract and the annual value of each contract to individual GPs; if he will give a specific breakdown of the number of GPs who have contracts in respect of the GMS scheme, the GP visit card scheme, the mother and infant scheme, the childhood vaccination scheme, and various Department of Social Protection schemes; if he will further list the number of GPs who are currently tied into more than one State contract; and, in respect of these individuals, if he will specify which schemes they are engaged in; the period that each contract lasts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22363/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE's Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) supports the delivery of primary health care by providing reimbursement services to Primary Care contractors (General Practitioners, Pharmacists, Dentists and Optometrists/Ophthalmologists) who have contracts with the HSE to provide services to members of the public in their own community.
Each year, the HSE publishes the PCRS's statistical analysis of claims and payments. The 2009 report shows that the number of agreements between the HSE and GPs was 2,663. This includes the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme which covers medical card and GP visit card holders, the Primary Childhood Immunisation Scheme, the Health (Amendment) Act 1996 — (Hepatitis C Patients), Heartwatch and the Methadone Treatment Scheme. This statistical report is available on the website www.pcrs.ie. The full list of payments to individual GPs for services under the GMS contract in 2009 is also available on this website.
There is no defined termination period for the renewal of these contracts, however GPs have a right to terminate their contracts, as they feel appropriate and the HSE can also terminate the contracts in certain circumstances. I have no function in schemes provided by the Department of Social Protection.
The other information sought by the Deputy is not readily available. However I have asked the Health Service Executive to supply this information to me and I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as possible.
