Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 40: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she has satisfied herself with the out-of-hours services offered by general practitioners and co-operatives; the steps she is taking to improve these services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8604/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The established and agreed policy on general practitioner out of hours co-operative services is outlined in the national health strategy Quality and Fairness A Health System for You, which commits to further development of this area. The GP co-operatives provide the means for all patients, both medical card and private, to access appropriate qualified medical care out of hours, including domiciliary visits where deemed appropriate, by dialling a lo-call number. The development of GP co-operatives is being undertaken as part of the overall strengthening of primary care services available to patients and to ensure that, to the greatest extent possible, patients care needs are met in the primary care setting.

The first full out of hours general practitioner co-operative began in the Health Service Executive's south eastern area in 1999 and was adjudged one of the most significant developments in the area of general practice. In 2000, this co-operative service along with that operated in the HSE's north eastern area were independently evaluated and found to be an enhancement of the care available to patients. The evaluations also found that the services provided were held in high regard by both the patient and the service provider.

Between 2000 and 2005, approximately €105 million has been provided for the development of GP out of hours co-operatives. In 2006 approximately €33 million is available to the HSE, of which €2 million is new funding in the current year. The HSE is at present giving consideration to the further developments to be undertaken on foot of this additional funding. Out of hours co-operatives are now found in part of all HSE areas, providing coverage in part or all of the 26 counties. The geographical areas to be covered by co-operatives and any expansion are decisions for the HSE to make, having regard to the strategic, financial and other issues involved.

Some of the co-operatives have put in place systems to monitor the satisfaction levels of patients using the service and in others independent evaluation on customer reactions are undertaken. In the HSE's western area an independent evaluation of the co-operative, conducted by National University of Ireland, Galway, found high levels of patient satisfaction with the service provided by the doctors and recorded that 30% of survey respondents would have gone to a hospital accident and emergency unit if the service had not been available.

In the context of their operational responsibility for GP out of hours services I understand that the HSE intends to undertake a review of this service area, and that the terms of reference for this task are under consideration.