Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister for Health. I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter as it provides me with an opportunity to update the House on GP services. I acknowledge the contribution GPs and their staff have made both in urban and rural areas to the health and welfare of citizens. I assure the Deputy that the Government is strongly committed to the future of rural Ireland. Like him, I come from a rural constituency. We recognise the contribution rural communities have made to overall national economic development, as well as to the development of their local areas. Our vision is of vibrant, inclusive, economically thriving rural areas. The people living in these communities should experience a quality of life at least as high, if not better in several respects, as that experienced in urban areas.

The Government is committed to ensuring patients throughout the country will continue to have access to GP services, especially in remote rural areas, and that general practice will be sustainable in such areas into the future. The HSE, the Department of Health and the Irish Medical Organisation are engaged in a comprehensive review of the GMS and other publicly funded health sector GP contracts. Among the issues encompassed by the review process is support for general practice, especially in remote rural areas. I do not propose to comment on the detail of these ongoing negotiations. Under the current GMS contract, GPs who practise in remote rural areas of low population qualify for special rural practice concessions, including an annual allowance of just over €16,200 and more favourable subsidies towards the employment of staff, including practice nurses and secretarial support. More advantageous supports towards locum costs for leave are also payable.

The HSE has recently produced revised rural practice allowance guidelines for remote rural areas. The purpose of the new guidance is to ensure consistency, transparency and fairness in decision-making regarding relevant discretionary provisions of the GMS contract as they apply to rural GP practices. The guidance also provides for greater flexibility in considering applications from GPs than that provided for in the original governing circular, as well as providing additional options to support GPs. From time to time HSE local offices also offer other incentives to attract GPs into rural areas such as access to HSE facilities and the offer of additional contracts such as providing medical officer services for nursing homes.

I am aware that some isolated rural areas and deprived urban areas, very often with limited private practice opportunities, may find it difficult to attract GPs to fill vacant posts. However, I have been assured by the HSE that where a GMS GP vacancy arises, the executive takes the necessary steps to ensure continuity of service to GMS patients is maintained.

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