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General Medical Services Scheme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 May 2012

Tuesday, 1 May 2012

Ceisteanna (590)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

666 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health his views regarding the situation of diabetics on the medical card, who now can only get an appointment in Tallaght hospital diabetic clinic, Dublin, once in two years and whose general practitioners will not deal with them as they say they are not paid by the Health Service Executive for them and are in negotiation regarding payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21619/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Under the General Medical Services (GMS) contract, a general practitioner (GP) is required to provide his/her patients who hold a medical card or GP visit card, including those patients with a diagnosis of diabetes, with all proper and necessary treatment of a kind generally undertaken by a GP. In line with international best practice the HSE and the Department of Health are currently developing plans for the effective management of chronic diseases at primary care level. The initial focus in 2012 is on the establishment of an integrated model of care for the management of patients with diabetes whereby,

1. Uncomplicated Type 2 diabetes patients will be managed in primary care only.

2. Patients with complicated type 2 diabetes, as defined by the national model of diabetes care, will be managed both by primary and secondary care.

3. All patients with Type 1 diabetes, genetic causes of diabetes (MODY diabetes), secondary causes of diabetes, post-transplant diabetes, pregnancy and diabetes will be managed in secondary care only.

The integrated model of care for diabetes is to be rolled out on a phased basis as resources permit. Work is also continuing on progressing initiatives introduced in 2011, including the national multi-disciplinary foot care programme and the national retinopathy screening programme. As the other aspects of the Deputy's question relate to service matters it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

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