Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 269: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if doctor on call charges for children under six weeks old are covered by the mother and child scheme; if this policy has changed recently; and the reasons for this change in policy. [37418/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Maternity and Infant Care Scheme does not cover doctor on call charges for children under six weeks old. The scheme provides an agreed programme of care free of charge to an expectant mother arising out of her pregnancy and to her new-born baby for six weeks after birth. After the birth, the scheme provides for two designated visits to the general practitioner for the baby:- the first two weeks after the birth and is primarily for examination of the baby and the second at six weeks after birth is for both the mother and the baby.

General Practitioners who hold contracts with the Health Service Executive (HSE) under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme to provide services to medical card and GP visit card holders are obliged to make suitable arrangements to enable their GMS patients to make contact with them or their locum/deputy outside of normal hours for urgent cases. Where the HSE and the GMS GP agree that this contractual obligation is suitably addressed through a doctor on call service then any consultations would be provided without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders.