Michael Harty (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In the two earlier sessions we met representatives of the IMO, the ICGP and the NAGP. They were adamant that the independent contractor model would best serve the health service. They believed the resourcing of the small business model was broken and that, therefore, general practice was unsustainable. Are the delegates aware of a model that employs salaried GPs outside the independent contractor model? If so, where does it happen? If one were to have salaried GPs working on a roster seven days a week, how many additional GPs would the health service require? Let us remember that salaried GPs would be subject to the EU working time directive. Many GPs work in excess of 48 hours a week. An additional number of GPs would be required to man the service under the EU working time directive. How would the delegates propose to recruit and retain and maintain capacity and increase the capacity of the health service if we were to move to such a model?

Contract negotiations are taking place. There is a proposal in Sláintecare to have salaried GPs in certain areas in which it has been hard to recruit doctors, including rural and deprived urban areas.

Perhaps the delegates might also refer to access to hospital services. Last week a "Prime Time" programme drew attention to the fact that there were many unsavoury practices in hospitals. It appears that there was a lack of management to ensure hospital doctors worked the full hours in their contracts, which had a knock-on effect on public outpatient and inpatient waiting lists.

Will the delegates refer to the growing trend for corporate entities to enter general practice? Companies have taken over practices. Many GPs cannot see a way out of their practice other than by becoming involved with a corporate entity.

Deputy Louise O'Reilly referred to practice nurses. Should they be directly employed or should they be employed using the small business model?

Like the delegates, we believe implementation of Sláintecare has been slow. Will they identify short-term measures that would kickstart it?

I apologise for asking so many questions.