John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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476. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 1252 of 7 September 2018, if consultations took place with general practitioners and their representatives before her Department changed the forms for illness benefit. [38366/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The introduction of the new forms was discussed and agreed with the Irish Medical Organisation. Prior to the introduction of the new forms, my Department wrote to all GPs on 16th July advising them that the forms would issue to them.

The introduction of these and other initiatives are the subject of ongoing discussions with the IMO. A framework and timetable has been agreed with the IMO, during which intensive discussions are planned with the aim of resolving issues relating to the resourcing of these initiatives. Changes to existing procedures will not be introduced until these discussions are concluded and advance notice, including details of any changes to payment arrangements, will be provided to individual GPs.

The Department has had a long and positive partnership with GPs over many years and is committed to working hard to resolve any outstanding issues which are causing concern amongst our GP partners.