Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am not. It is on the issue of contracts and whistleblowers. If there is such pressure on people, maybe we should include a clause in legislation that would allow people to be confident if they have concerns, in view of the fact that they have to renegotiate contracts with the HSE at a later stage. That is what I find problematic. A GP may see a deficiency in the service and a threat to patient safety. The Bill states:

(4) Regulations made under subsection (3) may prescribe different amounts or rates in respect of different services or in respect of the provision of services to different classes of eligible person.
(5) Prior to making regulations under subsection (3), the Minister or, at the Minister’s direction, the Health Service Executive, shall engage in such consultations as the Minister considers appropriate.

The problem is that a GP, a group of GPs or a region of GPs who are in dispute with the HSE over an issue such as patient safety or lack of resourcing are expected to negotiate contracts with the same people. There could be a conflict of interest on both sides because the HSE could be vindictive if it felt certain GPs were creating difficulties. We need to explore this area because we should never discourage people from coming forward if they see patient safety being compromised. Although we ration health on a daily basis in this country, as in every other country, there should be no rationing of resources for patient safety. I am concerned about it.