Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The key measures that will be implemented in primary care over the remainder of the Government's term in office are the introduction of a universal general practitioner service that is free at the point of access; the introduction of a new GP contract; the phased roll-out of chronic disease management programmes; the development of the primary care workforce to facilitate the universal GP service and chronic disease management; and the continued development of the primary care infrastructure. The Government is committed to introducing on a phased basis a universal GP service by 2016, as an essential prerequisite for the introduction of universal health insurance as set out in the programme for Government and the future health strategy framework. As announced in the budget, it has been decided to commence the roll-out of a universal GP service by providing all children aged five and under with access to a GP service without fees. This will mean that almost half of the population will have access to GP services without fees. Additional funding of €37 million has been provided to meet the full-year cost of this measure.

The new General Medical Services GP contract will focus on prevention and will include a requirement for GPs to provide care as part of integrated multidisciplinary primary care teams. The formulation of the new contract will have regard to the constraints of Irish and EU competition law, particularly in respect of the setting of fees and allowances. The HSE is developing integrated chronic disease management programmes to improve patient access and to manage patient care in an integrated manner across service settings, resulting in best health outcomes, enhanced clinical decision-making and the most effective use of resources. The HSE national service plan and operational plan for 2014 will see a continued focus on the asthma, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease programmes which are particularly relevant to primary care.

In 2013, primary care funding of €20 million nationally is being invested to support the recruitment of prioritised front-line primary care team posts and to enhance the capacity of the primary care sector. Considerable progress has been made in the delivery of primary care centres and 32 have opened since May 2011. Since 2012, primary care infrastructure has been approved and is under way at 15 locations through refurbishment, extension of suitable properties or through new build. Construction is under way at six locations and planning permission has been granted at an additional 22 locations under the operational lease mechanism.

The HSE is working with the National Development Finance Agency to progress the PCC public private partnership programme. Planning applications for the 16 PCC sites have been lodged recently or will be shortly.

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