James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

401. To ask the Minister for Health his views on whether the decision by a medical service (details supplied) to increase its charge for children’s consultations to €70 is acceptable; the person or body that sets the charge for the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2605/19]

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

Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts with GPs to provide services to provide services to medical card and GP visit card holders. The GP contract stipulates that GPs must make suitable arrangements to enable contact to be made with them, or a locum/deputy, for urgent cases outside normal practice hours. Many GPs choose to participate in GP out of hours cooperatives to meet this contractual obligation. 

GPs are reimbursed by the HSE for out of hours consultations they provide to medical card or GP visit card holders. There is no provision under the GMS contract for medical card GP visit card holders to be charged for out of hours consultations provided by their GP or an out of hours provider acting on behalf of their GP.

People who do not hold a medical card or GP visit card access GP services on a private basis, including GP out of hours services. I have no role in relation to the fees charged by individual GPs or GP out of hours service providers for private consultations, as these are a matter of private contract between the clinicians and their patients.