Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes the securing of appropriately trained general practitioners to provide services to medical card holders under the general medical services scheme in its functional area.

General practitioner services are being provided to persons who hold medical cards and who reside in Shercock, County Cavan, by general practitioners who are based in Carrickmacross. This area comes under the responsibility of the Health Service Executive's north-eastern area. These GPs provide a number of clinics in Shercock. Patients may also attend the GP practice premises in person during normal surgery times by appointment or at walk-in clinics where no appointment is necessary. Domiciliary visits, where clinically necessary, are also provided. Out-of-hours cover for the Shercock area is provided by the North East Doc Co-operative, which operates from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. Monday to Friday, and all day Saturday Sunday, public and bank holidays.

The Health Service Executive's north-eastern area has advised the Department that officials from its primary care unit met with a group of public representatives from the area last week, which included Senator Wilson. The officials explained that they are currently exploring a number of options in regard to GP services in Shercock and they hope to reach a conclusion in the near future. The officials undertook to keep the group apprised of developments.

As regards manpower levels in general practice, the Department of Health and Children met with the Irish College of General Practitioners which is responsible for the organisation of training of GPs in Ireland. It was agreed with the college to increase the number of training places from the current 84 to 150. It was also agreed with the Irish College of General Practitioners that this would best be achieved on a phased basis with 22 new places being provided in each of the years 2005 to 2007. Funding was provided to allow the Health Service Executive implement this development in 2005.