Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
1318. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health the charging structure in relation to the out of hours on call doctors services by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32417/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe GMS Contract requires GPs to make suitable arrangements to enable contact to be made with them, or a locum/deputy, for urgent cases outside normal practice hours. There is no provision under the GMS contract for persons who hold a medical card or GP visit card to be charged for out of hours services provided by their GP, or a locum or deputy on behalf of their own GP.
GPs receive specific payments under the GMS scheme for consultations they provide to GMS patients outside of normal surgery hours, as set out in Schedule 2 of S.I. 233/2016. The rates of payment available are summarised in the following table.
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Payments available for Out of Hours Consultations under the GMS scheme |
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Surgery consultation Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) between the hours of 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. on the same day and 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. on the same day |
€13.88 |
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Surgery consultation Monday to Friday between the hours of 6 p.m. and 8 a.m. the following day and any time on Saturday, Sunday and public holidays |
€41.63 |
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Domiciliary visit out-of-hours |
€41.63 |
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Surgery consultation or domiciliary visit out-of-hours where a general practitioner sees an additional patient under the General Medical Services Scheme during the same consultation or visit |
€13.88 |
Many GPs opt to participate in GP out of hours co-operatives as a means of meeting their contractual out of hours requirements
People who do not hold a medical or GP visit card, access GP services on a private basis. The fees charged by GPs or GP out of hours co-operatives for private out of hours consultations are a matter of private contract between patients and the GP or GP out of hours co-operative concerned.
