Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Under paragraph 11 of the general medical services or GMS contract, a general practitioner or GP shall provide for eligible persons, on behalf of the HSE, all proper and necessary treatment of a kind usually undertaken by a GP and not requiring special skill or experience of a degree or kind which GPs cannot reasonably be expected to possess. Under paragraph 27 of the GMS contract, a medical practitioner shall not demand or accept any payment or consideration whatsoever in reward for services provided by him or her, or for travelling or for other expenses incurred by him or her, or for the use of any premises, equipment or instruments in making the services available.

In circumstances where the taking of blood is necessary, either to assist in the process of diagnosing a patient or to monitor a diagnosed condition, the GP may not charge that patient if he or she is eligible for free GMS services under the Health Act 1970, as amended. The HSE has written to GP contract holders and clarified the position on this matter and has also communicated its position to the Irish Medical Organisation. Any alleged instances of eligible patients being requested to pay for a routine service of this nature from their own limited resources is viewed as a serious matter by the HSE and by the Department.

I have been advised by the HSE that its local health offices will fully investigate any reported incidents of eligible patients being charged for phlebotomy services which form part of the investigation and necessary treatment of patients' symptoms or conditions. In such cases, where a medical card holder or a GP-visit card holder has been inappropriately charged for the taking of blood, the HSE will make deductions from the routine GMS payments of those GPs.

Officials in my Department are in consultation with the HSE with a view to drawing up a new GP contract. The appropriate arrangements for phlebotomy services will be considered as part of the new contract.

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