Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 39: To ask the Minister for Health the action he has taken regarding the charging of fees by general practitioners for services that should be provided free to patients with medical cards. [1326/12]

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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Question 904: To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a number of doctors are charging their medical card patients for blood tests; the procedure for reporting this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41382/11]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 904 together.

General Practitioners who hold GMS contracts with the HSE must not seek or accept money from medical card or GP visit card holders for services covered under the GMS contract. For instance, in circumstances where the taking of blood is necessary to either (a) diagnose a patient or (b) monitor a diagnosed condition, the GP may not charge the patient if they are eligible for free GMS services. The HSE points out that in many GP surgeries, it is the practice nurse who takes blood samples and it significantly subsidises the cost of employing practice nurses. At my request, the HSE has written to all GMS GPs reminding them of their obligations under their contract in this regard. I encourage patients to follow up with the HSE if they believe they are being wrongly charged for services by their GP and the matter will be fully investigated by the Executive. Formal complaints will be dealt with through the HSE's Consumer Affairs Service. In a number of cases to date, the GP has reimbursed their patients following receipt of correspondence from the HSE. I appreciate that because of the nature of the GP/patient relationship, it may be difficult for patients to make such complaints. Where public representatives are made aware of GPs charging GMS patients in error, they may wish to notify the HSE directly.