Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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GPs are self-employed practitioners.

The purpose of the GMS contract is to ensure the provision of general practice medical care to individuals who hold either a Medical Card or a GP Visit Card. General practitioners who hold a GMS contract are reimbursed for those services through the terms of the contract. Remuneration is provided through capitation payments and fee-per-item payments for certain services.

Under the GMS scheme, GPs are paid a subsidy towards the cost of employing a practice nurse and/or a practice secretary. The rate payable depends on the GP's GMS panel size and the level of experience of the nurse or secretary. A practice manager subsidy is also available.

Under the terms of the General Medical Services and GP Visit Card contracts, the maximum number of medical card or GP visit card patients on a GP's patient panel may not exceed 2,000, or 2,200 if the GP also holds an under 8s contract, except in exceptional circumstances. There is no minimum number of patients specified for a panel. Where a patient who holds either a Medical Card or a GP Visit Card is unable to find a GP to accept them on their panel, the HSE can allocate them to a GP who, subject to certain limitations, is obliged to accept the patient.