Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)

I strongly support the view that access to General Medical Services, GMS, contracts should be opened up to all qualified and vocationally trained GPs who meet general suitability criteria. The Irish Medical Organisation, the HSE and my Department are parties to the terms of the GMS contract. A consultation group representing all parties to the contract have been reviewing the provisions relating to entry to the GMS scheme. Considerable progress has been made in this regard. An interim arrangement which applied up to 31 March 2010 allowed appropriately qualified and trained GPs to apply for access to the GMS scheme to provide a service to specific categories of patients such as those who become eligible for a medical card under the Health Act 2008 after 1 October 2009. A total of 178 GPs have been deemed eligible under this arrangement and a further 66 applicants are awaiting a decision pending the supply of further documentation or further clarification.

A further initiative which allowed a number of GPs who commenced working under the GP visit card scheme in 2005 to be allowed take on full GMS patients in 2010 was brought forward by one year and implemented from 1 July 2009. Approximately 50 GPs benefited from this measure. In addition, work is ongoing to identify a mechanism to up-skill long-term locums or assistants who are not currently eligible for GMS contracts. My Department and the HSE continue to explore further options to make it easier for new general practitioners to provide services for patients who hold a medical card.

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