Written answers
Tuesday, 28 July 2020
Department of Health
General Practitioner Services
Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
877. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing the annual general practitioner training intake to 250 for 2020. [18052/20]
Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
878. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing the annual general practitioner training intake to 250 for 2020. [18053/20]
Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
I propose to take Questions Nos. 877 and 878 together.
As GP training is currently the responsibility of the Health Service Executive, I have arranged for this question to be referred to the Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
879. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost for one doctor and ten doctors, respectively, on the general practitioner training scheme. [18054/20]
Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
As GP training is currently the responsibility of the Health Service Executive, I have arranged for this question to be referred to the Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
880. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of directly employing one, ten and 50 general practitioners, respectively, inclusive of salary and PRSI costs. [18055/20]
Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
General Practitioners are self-employed private practitioners, most of whom have contracts with the HSE to provide services under various public health schemes.
Under the General Medical Services (GMS) contract, GPs are reimbursed for a range of services they provide to medical card and GP visit card holders. GPs are remunerated for these services primarily on a capitation basis, with a range of additional support payments and fees for specific items of service.
As there is currently no approved salary scale in the public service for a GP post, it is not possible to quantify the financial implications for the HSE of GPs being hired to provide services to the public health system under the GMS and other schemes.
Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
881. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost and breakdown of providing practice nurses to work with 50 general practitioners; and the estimated cost of their training and pay for work for a first and full-year period. [18056/20]
Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
Under the GMS scheme, GPs can claim a subsidy towards the cost of employing a practice nurse. Payment is made to participating doctors with a panel size of at least 100 patients and payment increases in bands of 100 with a maximum payment applicable at a panel size of 1,200. The subsidy rate applies to staff employed on a full-time basis and varies depending on the nurses experience. In relation to staff not employed on a full-time basis, payment is made on a pro rata basis. There is no provision under the terms of the GMS contract to pay for the training of practice nurses.
Schedule of Current Subsidies Payable in respect of Practice Nurses
1. Nursing subsidy (per year) — 1 year’s experience €30,945.86
2. Nursing subsidy (per year) — 2 years’ experience €32,665.07
3. Nursing subsidy (per year) — 3 years’ experience €34,384.29
4. Nursing subsidy (per year) — 4 or more years’ experience €37,822.72
The HSE does not fund practice nurse posts in full therefore the costings provided below are based on the current level of subsidy payments.
Assuming the GP has a panel of 1,200+ patients, the cost of the subsidy for 50 practice nurses would range between €1.547 million and €1.891 million depending on the experience of the nurse.
Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
882. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost and breakdown of providing medical secretaries to work with 50 general practitioners including the cost of their training and pay for work for a first and full-year period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18057/20]
Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
Under the GMS scheme, GPs can claim a subsidy towards the cost of employing a practice secretary. Payment is made to participating doctors with a panel size of at least 100 patients and payment increases in bands of 100 with a maximum payment applicable at a panel size of 1,200. The subsidy rate applies to staff employed on a full-time basis and varies depending on the secretary’s experience. In relation to staff not employed on a full-time basis, payment is made on a pro rata basis. There is no provision under the terms of the GMS contract to pay for the training of practice secretaries.
Schedule of Current Subsidies Payable in respect of Practice Secretaries
1. Secretarial subsidy (per year) — 1 year’s experience €20,630.57
2. Secretarial subsidy (per year) — 2 years’ experience €22,349.80
3. Secretarial subsidy (per year) — 3 or more years’ experience €24,068.99
As the HSE does not fund practice secretary posts in full, the costings provided below are based on the current level of subsidy payments.
Assuming the GP has a panel of 1,200+ patients, the cost of the subsidy for 50 medical secretaries would range between €1.032 million and €1.203 million depending on the experience of the secretary.
Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
883. To ask the Minister for Health the cost paid by the State for a general practitioner visit under the general medical services scheme. [18058/20]
Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
Under the General Medical Services (GMS) contract, GPs are reimbursed for a range of services they provide to medical card and GP visit card holders. GPs are remunerated for these services primarily on a capitation basis rather than a per-visit basis, with a range of additional support payments and fees for specific items of service. It is therefore not possible to calculate the cost of a GP visit under the GMS scheme.
The table below outlines the current capitation fees payable in respect of medical card and GP visit card patients, by age group.
| Age Cohort | Medical Card/GP Visit Card Male | Medical Card/GP Visit Card Female |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 4 years | €74.59 | €72.76 |
| 5 year-old, where GP does not hold an under 6 contract | €43.29 | €43.79 |
| 0 - 5 years, where GP holds an under 6 contract - includes two periodic assessments, one at age two and one at age five | €125.00 | €125.00 |
| 0 – 5 years where GP holds an under 6 contract - initial Asthma diagnosis and registration after the child reaches the age of two years | €50.00 | €50.00 |
| 0 – 5 years where GP holds an under 6 contract - enhanced capitation (in respect of child in year one post asthma registration (subject to submission of annual dataset return). Includes two visits, one at three months post registration and an annual review visit | €90.00 | €90.00 |
| 0 – 5 years where GP holds an under 6 contract - enhanced capitation for asthma patients for each subsequent year up to and including the age of five years (subject to submission of annual dataset return) | €45.00 | €45.00 |
| 6 – 15 years | €53.38 | €54.00 |
| 16 – 44 years | €68.15 | €111.44 |
| 45 – 64 years | €136.12 | €149.57 |
| 65 – 69 years | €143.39 | €159.97 |
| Aged 70 years and over, residing in the community | €334.95 | €334.95 |
| Aged 70 years and over, residing in a private nursing home (approved by the HSE) for continuous in excess of 5 weeks | €535.38 | €535.38 |
Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
884. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of expanding the specialist training fund for higher specialist trainees scheme for general practitioners in first and second year giving €500 per year as is the case for third- and fourth-year trainee general practitioners. [18059/20]
Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
As GP training is currently the responsibility of the Health Service Executive, I have arranged for this question to be referred to the Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
885. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing the specialist training fund for the higher specialist trainees scheme from €500 to €600 for general practitioners in third and fourth year. [18060/20]
Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
I have asked the HSE to revert directly to the Deputy on this matter.
No comments