Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 162: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the plans she has to address the shortage of general practitioners in an area (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24526/08]

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

The key objective of the Primary Care Strategy is to give people direct access to integrated multidisciplinary teams of general practitioners, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, home helps and others. I have emphasised to the HSE the importance I attach to the continued development and roll-out of primary care teams and my Department will continue to monitor progress in this regard throughout the year. I am aware that there are plans at an advanced stage for the development of a new primary care centre in the location specified by the Deputy, which will provide a full range of services, including General Practitioner Services.

Under the Health Act 2004, the management and delivery of health and personal social services are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive. This includes operational responsibility for the selection of general practitioners to provide services under the General Medical Services Scheme and also the selection of locations for primary care teams. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to provide the Deputy with further information on primary care developments.