Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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131. To ask the Minister for Health if there is a procedure in place for availing of a service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7232/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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People who do not hold a medical card or GP visit card access GP services on a private basis and can make enquiries directly to any GP practice they wish to register with.

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.