Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Why was almost €3 million spent by the HSE to employ general medical card scheme, GMS, GP locums when doctors around the country were offering to take on a list when a colleague moved on? These doctors were prevented from doing so by the HSE. Why are we allowing circumstances in which we keep throwing away much-needed money? There are doctors willing to ensure continuity of care for patients but the HSE prefers to employ locums at a large cost. I read yesterday in The Medical Independentthat the national average annual cost to the HSE for GMS GP locums is €262,000, and that last year the HSE employed at least 11 GMS GP locums nationally as part of an effort to provide cover for 22 vacant GMS GP panels. According to the article, the HSE stated 176 GMS GPs were awarded contracts under the scheme in 2018 while 101 GMS GPs retired. I would like the Leader to call on the Minister to come to the House to explain why we are not using common sense. I will most likely be told by the HSE that it is struggling to fill vacant GMS panels with a permanent GP following Government cuts but I urge the saving of money where an offer is made to take on a list. I want the Minister to come to this House.

We have heard reports of people on trolleys again and of wards closing. I have even heard people tell me that they cannot get an extra pillow because there are none in hospitals now. It is now at the stage where one is lucky if one has a pillow. If one asks for another, one is told there are none. We need to have the Minister in here and make the HSE accountable for decisions it is making.