Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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345. To ask the Minister for Health the protocol for an area where a GP does not have an out-of-hours or locum agreement in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19909/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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GPs contracted under the General Medical Services Scheme are required by their contract to make suitable arrangements to enable contact to be made with them, or a locum or deputy, for emergencies outside of normal practice hours.

While there is no obligation on GPs to participate in GP out of hours co-operatives as a means of meeting the contractual requirement, such services facilitate the provision of GP services outside of normal surgery hours and help to spread the burden of this provision. Only a small number of areas are not covered by GP out of hours co-operatives, instead out of hours services are provided by local GPs. Funding was provided to the HSE for this year to provide additional out of hours support in certain areas not covered by out of hours co-operatives.

As private practitioners, GPs have responsibility for the securing of GP locum services as required. Under the GMS scheme, the HSE makes a contribution to eligible GMS GPs towards locum expenses for leave taking purposes. The contribution amount for maternity leave, and the contribution amount for paternity leave as well as the leave duration, was increased under the 2019 GP Agreement. Where a GMS GP has difficulty in securing locum cover where it is required, the relevant HSE Community Health Organisation will assist the GP in providing locum cover where possible.