Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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689. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the number of general practitioners who have signed the contract for universal care for under sixes; the discussions he has had with representatives of general practitioners in the past weeks regarding this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20381/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The contract for the under-6 service was issued to GPs by the HSE at the end of April, following the conclusion of contractual discussions and the approval of fees rates by Ministers. A substantial number of general practitioners have signed this contract to date. I am confident that there will be sufficient numbers of GPs participating to introduce the new service as planned.

The HSE plans to begin patient registration for the under-6 service on schedule in early June so that the under-6 GP service can commence in early July. In order for a doctor's details to be included in the HSE's on-line database when patient registration begins, signed contracts must be returned by 5 June at the latest. The HSE will continue to accept signed contracts after that date and will add the details of the doctors concerned to its database on an ongoing basis.

On 9 May I attended the Irish College of General Practitioners' annual general meeting, at which I participated in a Question-and-Answer session on a range of issues, including the introduction of the under-6 GP service. Officials from the Department and the HSE recently assisted the Irish Medical Organisation in clarifying a number of issues which had been raised by general practitioners in relation to the under-6 GP contract.