Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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786. To ask the Minister for Health if he has considered bringing a teleconsultation with a family doctor under the remit of the GP visit card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35349/17]

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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788. To ask the Minister for Health if he has considered using eHealth and teleconsultations as a means of supplementing the national out of hours service funded through the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35351/17]

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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789. To ask the Minister for Health the person or area within the HSE that should be consulted regarding partnering out of hours services and the technology needed to provide teleconsultations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35352/17]

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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790. To ask the Minister for Health if he has considered including teleconsultations to GMS card holders in the primary care reimbursement service to alleviate pressure on GP services for maters which can be dealt with online; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35353/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 786 and 788 to 790, inclusive, together.

It is generally accepted that teleconsultations mean a virtual medical consultation between health care professionals or between a health care professional and a patient. There is emerging evidence that this can be applied to support a wide range of medical conditions including mental health, care of the elderly and other chronic conditions that require constant monitoring. This can be beneficial where care is required in remote locations. Teleconsultations can have benefits for patients with a known relationship with their GPs and many practitioners consult for follow-up or triage with their own patients by phone or text at present. However, teleconsultations could pose risks for those patients who have not been evaluated and examined in a face-to-face manner.

The eHealth strategy envisages providing the necessary technology and infrastructure to support the wider use of telemedicine where clinicians and health care providers can support the business need. There are no plans at present to include teleconsultations under the current medical card or GP visit card schemes. While teleconsultation services are being provided by some practitioners, these are being implemented on a pilot basis. The widespread deployment of teleconsultations in primary and other care settings will need evaluation in terms of patient safety, clinical effectiveness and cost in order to ensure public policy goals are being met. There will also be a need for guidance and clinical protocols around the appropriate use of teleconsultations to be developed as well as retraining and education of staff and patients.

In relation to the GP Out-of-Hours services, a national review of the current services is currently underway and is expected to be completed shortly. This report will make recommendations regarding the future provision of GP Out of Hours services that will serve patient needs within the context of existing and planned service delivery frameworks.

It is acknowledged that there are many challenges in general practice. That is why I have repeatedly emphasised the need for a new GP services contract which will help modernise our health service and develop a strengthened primary care sector. The aim is to develop a new GP services contract which will be capable of accommodating developments in medicine and in technology that may occur over time. The next phase of engagement on a new GP contract has commenced and I look forward to constructive and positive engagement in the months ahead.