Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

59. To ask the Minister for Health the additional supports he is putting in place to support general practitioners, especially in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42991/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Government is committed to ensuring that patients throughout the country continue to have access to GP services, especially in remote rural areas, and that general practice is sustainable in such areas into the future. It is also imperative that services meet patient needs, that existing GP services are maintained and that general practice remains an attractive career option for newly-qualified GPs.

Under the current General Medical Services contract, GPs who practise in remote rural areas of low population qualify for special rural practice concessions, including an annual Rural Practice Allowance of just over €16,200, practice support subsidies towards the employment of certain practice staff at the maximum applicable rate regardless of the size of their patient panel, and the maximum applicable contribution towards locum costs for periods of leave.

Where a GP currently holds the allowance but the circumstances underpinning this have changed, the GP retains the allowance while they continue to practise in that location. When a new GP commences in the area, their application for the allowance is considered afresh by the HSE.

The HSE has recently reviewed its guidelines for dealing with applications for a Rural Practice Allowance. The purpose of the new guidance is to ensure consistency, transparency and fairness in decision-making in respect of the relevant discretionary provisions of the GMS contract pertaining to the granting or otherwise of the allowance to new applicants. The new guidance does not affect existing holders of the allowance.

The HSE, Department of Health and Irish Medical Organisation are currently engaged in a comprehensive review of the GMS and other publicly-funded health sector contracts involving GPs. Among the many topics being considered under this review process is the issue of supports for General Practice, especially in remote rural areas.