Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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309. To ask the Minister for Health if he has plans in place to ensure non-medical card patients are not left without a GP when their GP retires (details supplied). [2501/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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GPs are private contractors, most of whom hold contracts with the HSE for the provision of medical services such as contracts under the General Medical Services (GMS) scheme for the provision of medical services without charge to patients who hold a medical card or GP visit card. Under the terms of the GMS contract, where a GMS GP retires or resigns from the GMS scheme, the HSE contacts the GMS patients concerned and arranges for their transfer to their new GMS GP.

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 contractors, it is a matter for each individual GP to decide whether to accept additional private patients. The HSE has no role in assigning private patients to a GP practice.