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

201. To ask the Minister for Health the additional support to be provided for the primary care sector in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2278/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The development of primary care is central to the Government's objective to deliver a high-quality, integrated and cost-effective health care system. The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to a decisive shift within the health service towards primary care in order to deliver better care close to home in communities across the country. The Programme emphasises the need and focus on enhancing primary health care services including the building-up of GP capacity, increasing the number of therapists and other health professionals in primary care and continuing to expand the development of primary care infrastructure.

Budget 2017 will deliver the highest health budget ever at €14.6 billion and, under primary care, provides for the commitment in the Programme for Government to provide a medical card to all children in respect of whom a Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) payment is made. In addition, legislation will be enacted to reduce the monthly cap on prescription charges for those over 70 years of age from €25 to €20. Additional funding of €18.5 million is also provided to support the development of primary care services, including enabling the support of complex paediatric cases at home, maintaining increased Community Intervention Team capacity and meeting lease costs of new Primary Care Centres. Preparations for the next phase of discussions on a new GP contract are under way and will be a key priority in the months ahead.

The quantum of service to be provided with the funding and the key service deliverables and priorities for the Primary Care Division are outlined in the HSE’s National Service Plan for 2017. Primary care services include primary care teams (PCTs), community healthcare network services, general practice, schemes reimbursement, social inclusion and palliative care services. The Plan can be sourced at .

I am advised that the HSE Operational Plans for 2017 are in train and, when published, will provide further detail on the services to be provided.