Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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Question 358: To ask the Minister for Health and Children his views regarding general practitioners who are operating under the general medical service scheme charging medical cardholders for blood tests; his plans to ensure that they are not charged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6353/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Under the General Medical Services (GMS) contract, a general practitioner (GP) is expected to provide his/her patients who hold medical cards or GP visit cards with all proper and necessary treatment of a kind generally undertaken by a GP. Where blood tests form part of the investigation and necessary treatment of patients symptoms or conditions, these should be provided free of charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. The HSE also points out that, in many GP surgeries, it is the practice nurse who takes blood samples. The HSE significantly subsidises the cost of employing practice nurses.

If the HSE is made aware of specific cases where GMS patients are being charged by GP contractors, it will arrange to have such cases investigated as appropriate.