Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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1052. To ask the Minister for Health the status of general practitioner contract negotiations; his views on whether the outcome of these talks will have a positive impact on the delivery of out-of-hours GP services, such as the County Clare service known as Shannondoc; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1532/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The development of primary care is central to the Government's objective to deliver a high-quality, integrated and cost effective health service. The Programme for Government and Sláintecare commit to shifting the model of healthcare towards a more comprehensive and accessible primary care service in order to deliver better care close to home in communities across the country. The development of a new, modernised contract for the provision of general practitioner services will be a key element in facilitating this process.

The aim is to develop a contract which has a population health focus, providing in particular for health promotion and disease prevention and for the structured ongoing care of chronic conditions. A new contract should be flexible and be able to respond to the changing nature of the GP workforce. It should also include provisions in relation to service quality and standards, performance, accountability and transparency. This will be key in making general practice a more attractive career.

Since 2015, negotiations have resulted in a number of service developments including the provision of free GP care to under 6's and over 70's, the introduction of a Diabetes Cycle of Care for adult GMS patients with Type 2 Diabetes and enhanced supports for rural GPs. The next phase of discussions on a new GP contract is under way and officials from the Department of Health and the HSE meet with GP representatives on a regular basis.

I am hopeful that agreement can be reached with GP representatives in the coming months on service developments that can be introduced during 2018.

Separately, the HSE's National Primary Care Division has undertaken a national review of current GP out of hours services and a final report is expected to be completed shortly. This report will make recommendations regarding the future provision of GP out of hours services.

I am confident that the GP contract review process and the out of hours review will result in service improvements across general practice, including out of hours services, benefitting both patients and GPs.