Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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Question 204: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the charging by general medical practitioners under the general medical scheme of medical card patients for routine blood samples; if this is in line with the GP contracts; if he will allow this practice to continue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11891/11]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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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 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.

I would be most concerned if it were to emerge that GMS patients are being charged inappropriately by GP contractors. If the HSE is made aware of any such cases, it will arrange to have them investigated as appropriate. A report has been requested from the Primary Care Unit Managers in the HSE on the extent of complaints received and the status of same.