Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

79. To ask the Minister for Health if he will ensure that the SouthDoc service will be maintained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4524/17]

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

General practitioners contracted under the General Medical Services scheme must make suitable arrangements to enable contact to be made with them, or a locum/deputy, for emergencies outside normal practice hours. While there is no obligation on GPs to participate in GP out-of-hours cooperatives as a means of meeting this contractual requirement, such services have been developed and expanded over time and are now an essential part of our primary care services helping to ensure that, to the greatest extent possible, urgent care needs are met in the primary care setting and I welcome this.

The HSE is currently undertaking a review of the existing GP out-of-hours services. A steering group was established to examine this issue and it is expected that a final report will be available in Quarter 1 this year. The HSE National Service Plan 2017 commits to implementing the recommendations of the review.

As the specific question in relation to SouthDoc is a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.