Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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472. To ask the Minister for Health the way in which a person (details supplied) can access their local general practitioner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3108/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I understand the person concerned does not hold a medical card or GP visit card and is having difficulty finding a GP.

People who do not hold a medical card or GP visit card access GP services on a private basis. GPs are private contractors and it is a matter for each individual GP to decide whether to accept additional private patients. In some instances GP practices have a full list of patients and cannot take on new patients. If this happens, patients should contact other GP practices in their area.

While I have no role in relation to such matters, I would expect clinicians to consider the importance of patients having access to a GP service close to home when deciding whether or not to accept private patients.