Written answers

Wednesday, 26 September 2007

Department of Health and Children

Health Service Staff

10:00 pm

Photo of Tom HayesTom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 364: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the way Health Service Executive recruitment freeze will impact on Cashel hospital. [20419/07]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services is a matter for the Health Service Executive and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall Vote. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular case / issue raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Photo of Niall CollinsNiall Collins (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 365: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if a general practitioner (details supplied) in County Limerick can continue their GMS work with the Health Service Executive after their 70th birthday. [20439/07]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Under the General Medical Services (GMS) scheme general practitioners hold one of two contract types, i.e. the Fee per Item contract (first introduced in 1972) or the Capitation contract (effective from 1989). These contracts reflect the agreed outcome of negotiations between my Department and the GP representative body, the Irish Medical Organisation.

Both contract types contain provisions which were agreed between the parties on a range of issues, including retirement age. The terms of the Capitation contract, which was agreed between the parties, provide that GPs who entered into contracts on the date of its commencement could hold the contract up to age 70 and that all subsequent GP contractors could hold the contract up to age 65. General Practitioners may, subject to continued registration with the Medical Council, continue to practice and to treat private patients following retirement from the GMS scheme.A review of the contractual arrangements for the provision of services under the GMS scheme and other publicly funded schemes is being undertaken at present. In this context, I have asked my Department, in conjunction with the HSE, to review the current arrangements regarding the age at which GPs must retire from the GMS scheme.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.