Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 37: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her view on concerns recently expressed, including at the Joint Committee on Health and Children, that all of the services which will be provided by the new primary health care teams will not be available to all patients of the practices involved; if she will address this inequality; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6535/09]

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

The Primary Care Strategy aims to develop services in the community and to give people improved access to integrated multi-disciplinary teams, involving general practitioners, nurses, home helps, occupational therapists and physiotherapists. Each team will be supported by a wider range of professionals including pharmacists, dieticians, psychologists and chiropodists who will form part of a primary care network supporting a number of primary care teams.

The HSE intends that 530 Primary Care Teams and 134 Primary Care Networks will be developed by 2011.

Pending the roll-out of the full complement of Primary Care Teams, my Department has instructed the HSE that in the short to medium term priority must be given to the provision of primary care team services to those with greatest need with the emphasis on ensuring that holders of medical cards are the principal beneficiaries of the development of the teams. Holders of GP visit cards should be the next category in terms of priority for receipt of such services with teams ultimately providing services on a whole population basis as they develop the capacity to do so. These arrangements are of an interim nature pending new legislation which my Department is currently preparing to clarify and update existing legislation on eligibility for health and personal social services.