Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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611. To ask the Minister for Health the obligations that exist upon a telehealth provider that closes down their service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48073/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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GPs are private practitioners, most of whom hold a GMS contract for the provision of services without charge on behalf of the HSE for patients who hold a medical card or GP visit card.

When a patient on a GP's GMS panel is transferred to the GMS panel of another GP, the patient's former GP, subject to the written consent of the patient, transfers the patient's medical records (or a summary thereof) to their new GP. Similarly, following the retirement or resignation of a participating GP from the GMS scheme, the transfer of those GMS patients' medical cards to their new doctor is arranged, subject to the consent of each patient concerned.

Patients who do not hold a medical or GP visit card attend their GP on a private basis. Likewise, patients that avail of online only GP service providers do so on a private basis. Neither I, as Minister, nor the HSE has a remit over allocating private patients to a new GP as the HSE has no contract for the care of non-GMS patients. Private patients are free to choose another practice in the area to meet their health care requirements.

The GP, the GP practice, or another legal entity providing a GP service, is the data controller for their patient's medical records. Under Article 15 of the GDPR, patients have a right to access their medical records directly from the GP or GP service provider concerned.