Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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206. To ask the Minister for Health if third level students may nominate a second or additional general practitioner to enable them to access GP services while attending educational institutions situated in areas which are not within reasonable travel distance from their homes, and thus, their local GPs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35504/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Patients who hold a medical card or GP visit card are registered with a single GP who holds a contract to provide services to eligible patients under the General Medical Services (GMS) scheme. GPs are remunerated for these services primarily on a capitation basis, with a range of additional support payments and fees for specific items of service. The amount payable in respect of certain supports is related to the doctor's panel size. As the fees and allowances payable to GPs under the GMS scheme are largely determined by the number of patients on their panel, it is not possible for a GMS patient to be registered on the panel of more than one GP.

Should a GMS patient wish to change their GP it is required that they submit a completed change of doctor form to the National Medical Card Unit, Exit 5 M50, North Road, Finglas, Dublin 11. Change of doctor forms are available from all HSE Local Health Offices or from the HSE's website.