John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 306: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the care of patients with diabetes will form part of the new general practitioner contracts relative to the primary care strategy being developed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37339/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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The Health Service Executive (HSE) is refocusing its services to give people direct access in the community to multi-disciplinary teams including general practitioners, nurses, health care assistants, home helps and occupational therapists. This is designed to maintain people in their own homes and communities for as long as possible, decrease hospital attendances and facilitate early hospital discharge and supported care at home.

The HSE plans to have 530 Primary Care Teams by 2011. Almost 130 Teams are already in place and the HSE aims to have 210 Teams in place by the end of 2009.

Chronic Disease Management Programmes are operating in a number of Teams and the HSE plans to further roll out such Programmes to a larger number of Teams. These programmes have defined linkages and agreed protocols with acute services.

It is my wish that future contracts between the HSE and general practitioners would provide for an increased focus on the active prevention and appropriate management of diabetes and other chronic illnesses.