Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

I thank Deputy Smith for raising this issue. The general practice at Ballinagh health centre has a substantial number of General Medical Services, GMS, clients. Currently, there is only one GMS general practitioner within the practice as one resigned recently on health grounds and another has been on long-term leave. The suspension of general practitioner services in Ballinagh health centre is a short-term measure pending the sourcing of the services of a locum. There are almost 2,300 general practitioners contracted by the HSE to provide general practitioner services under the GMS scheme to more than 1.6 million medical card holders and 120,000 general practitioner visit card holders.

The EU-IMF programme provides for the introduction of legislative changes to remove restrictions to trade and competition in sheltered sectors by the end of the third quarter in 2011. This includes eliminating restrictions on general practitioners wishing to treat public patients. The Deputy will be aware the current system has been in place for some time. It is a system whereby access to the GMS is only available to new general practitioners if an existing general practitioner retires or dies. The intention is that will change, namely, that the HSE will be in a position to take a much more proactive role in terms of ensuring adequate coverage of general practitioners in the country. Unfortunately, under current arrangements, that is not possible. However, we are moving towards a new situation.

The Government recently agreed to the preparation of heads of a Bill which will eliminate current restrictions on fully qualified and trained general practitioners wishing to obtain contracts to treat public patients under the GMS contract and empower the Minister for Health to set entry terms based on public health interest considerations. This proposed legislation will result in medical card and general practitioner visit card patients having a greater choice of general practitioners under the GMS scheme. It will also help to ensure private patients of new general practitioner contract holders, who qualify for a medical card or general practitioner visit card, will not have to change their general practitioner.

The Government is committed to establishing a strong system of primary care in Ireland. My appointment as the dedicated Minister of State for primary care is a clear indication of the Government's intentions in this regard. The development of primary care teams and primary care centres is a priority under the programme for Government. This will significantly increase health and social care in local communities, which will be achieved by redirecting services away from acute hospitals. Modern, well-equipped primary care centres will be central to the effective functioning of primary care teams. The centres will allow multidisciplinary services, provided by general practitioners, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and others, to be made available on a single site, providing a single point of access for the user and will encourage closer co-ordination between providers. The new centres will greatly assist in the provision of modern services, in particular the provision of chronic disease management by multidisciplinary teams.

I look forward to the developments that will take place later on this year, when access to the GMS will be opened up for general practitioners generally. I thank the Deputy for raising this issue.

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