Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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342. To ask the Minister for Health to urgently resolve the ongoing need for a full-time resident general practitioner in Rathmore, County Kerry, to fully replace the former retired general practitioner, given that many patients have had to seek general practitioner services in other towns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2931/16]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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As this is a service issue, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with the Executive.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Persons covered by the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme should not be charged for routine phlebotomy services provided by their GP, or the Practice Nurse on behalf of the GP, which are required to either assist in the diagnosis of illness or the treatment of a condition.

Consultation fees charged by GPs outside the terms of the GMS contract are a matter of private contract between the clinicians and the patients. While I have no role in relation to such fees, I would expect clinicians to have regard to the overall economic situation in setting their fees.

The Department of Health and the HSE are cognisant of the need for a new contract with GPs that will help modernise our health service and develop a strengthened primary care sector and negotiations are underway with the IMO in this regard. The development of appropriate contractual arrangements in relation to the management of chronic conditions and issues such as phlebotomy services are amongst the significant issues to be considered during the contractual talks.