Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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1409. To ask the Minister for Health the way in which the non-medical card patients of a general practitioner (details supplied) can be transferred to another practice as a matter of urgency since only medical card patients were reassigned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42859/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to eligible persons, persons who hold a medical card or a GP visit card. GPs are reimbursed by the HSE for the provision of those services. The HSE may assign an eligible person to another GP where their GP is resigning or where their GP's GMS contract is otherwise terminated. In addition, where an eligible person wishes to change their GP themselves, they may make a request for transfer to the HSE.

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. As private practitioners, it is a matter for each individual GP to decide whether to accept additional private patients. Neither my Department or the HSE have a role in transferring private patients to another GP practice.