Mr. Muiris O'Connor:

The GP is absolutely vital, particularly to the summary care record. The GP is the key point of contact for all of us in the health system. It is the GP who makes the most referrals and who receives the diagnostics that arise from those various referrals. The HSE and the Department will both be working very closely with GPs to progress the digital health agenda. GPs have one of the better IT arrangements at present and they organise information quite well. We want to work with them in delivering for everyone a summary care record, consistent with the Bill. The sharing of care records across the wider system will greatly benefit GPs as well as patients. GPs are central to this.