Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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GPs are private practitioners, most of whom hold a GMS contract with the HSE for the provision of health services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. GPs contracted under the GMS Scheme are required to make arrangements for their patients to be able to make contact outside of normal practice hours. Commonly, GPs will work with out of hours co-operatives to meet this requirement. GP out of hours co-operatives are largely private organisations.

On contacting a GP out of hours co-operative, the person concerned at the point of triage may be advised that, due to their circumstances, it is recommended they attend their nearest Emergency Department rather than receiving a remote or in-person GP consultation.

Where a person receives an out of hours GP consultation, upon examination, the GP may refer that person to their nearest Emergency Department if appropriate. Persons who do not hold a medical card or GP visit card are charged by the co-operative for remote or in-person GP consultations, these charges are a private matter between the co-operative and the person concerned. Medical card and GP visit card holders are not charged for out of hours GP consultations.

The Health (Out-Patient Charges) Regulations 2019 provides that, subject to certain exemptions, a charge shall be made for out-patient services provided at designated centres including an Emergency Department (€100) and a Minor Injury Unit (€75). These exemptions include a person with a medical card, a person who has a letter of referral from a registered medical practitioner, such as a GP, and a person whose attendance results in admission as an in-patient.