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Wednesday, September 08, 2010 |
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Welcome to the IMO
"The role of the IMO is to represent doctors in Ireland and to provide them
with all relevant services. It is committed to the development of a caring,efficient
and effective Health Service."
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25/01/2010
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IMO/HSE/Department of Health & Children Working Group on GP Manpower
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A Working Group was established between the IMO/HSE and the Department of Health & Children to examine issues of GP Manpower. The Group examined the whole area of GP manpower, GMS access/entry, the creation of a number of zero panel lists and the marking schedule for GMS interviews. A number of meetings have taken place between the parties over the last number of months.
At the last meeting the Department of Health and Children confirmed that the Minister had accepted the proposals of the Joint Working Group on a further agreement on GMS entry. A Circular containing the terms of the agreement would be prepared by the Department of Health and Children and be circulated to the IMO.
Mr Tommy Wilson, Assistant Principal Primary Care Division wrote to Mr McNeice in September outlining the changes to the entry provisions to the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme and to the retirement provisions for GPs under the GMS Scheme and/or the Maternity and Infant Care Scheme and/or the Primary Childhood Immunisation Programme.
The letter detailed the following:
I am directed by Mary Harney T.D., Minister for Health and Children to advise that she has approved certain changes to:
1. The entry provisions for General Practitioners (GPs) to the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme; and
2. The retirement provisions for GPs who hold a contract or contracts under the GMS Scheme and/or the Maternity and Infant Care Scheme and/or the Primary Childhood Immunisation Programme.
As you are aware, the Minister has for some time expressed her desire to see open access to GMS Contracts for all suitably qualified and approved vocationally trained GPs. Following consultation between the Department of Health & Children, the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), the Minister has agreed as an interim measure to extend the entry provisions to the GMS Scheme as follows:
Any fully qualified and approved vocationally trained General Practitioner (meeting the general conditions relating to eligibility for appointment to the GMS Scheme) who was in general practice on the 1st September 2009 and was in full time general practice for a period of one whole year prior to that date (or having, on or before that date, entered into a partnership, or signed a legally binding contract to enter into a partnership, with a General Practitioner who holds a GMS contract) shall be entitled to apply for a GMS contract under the terms of this letter.
For the purpose of these provisions, “full time practice” means the provision of GP services to patients continuously at one location in the Republic of Ireland during the period 1st September 2008 to 31st August 2009.
GPs who obtain contracts under these provisions will be entitled to accept:
(i) Patients who, on or after the 1st October 2009, become eligible for a medical card under the provisions of the Health Act, 2008;
(ii) Patients who, on or after the 1st October 2009, become eligible for a GP Visit Card under the provisions of the Health (Amendment) Act, 2005;
(iii) Any of their patients who become eligible for a Medical Card / GP Visit Card / Health (Amendment) Act card under the relevant provisions of the Health Acts on or after the 1st October 2009.
These arrangements shall apply for a transition period ending on 31st August 2013. After that date, the doctor concerned will be free to accept any Medical Card / GP Visit Card / Health (Amendment) Act patient nominating him or her as their doctor of choice, in accordance with the existing rules relating to GMS panel size, etc.
In the case of a GP who qualifies for a GMS contract under the terms of this letter relating to partnership and who continues in such partnership, the transition period will end on 31st August 2010, after which he/she will be free to accept any Medical Card / GP Visit Card / Health (Amendment) Act patient nominating him or her as their doctor of choice, in accordance with the existing rules relating to GMS panel size, etc.
During the transition period(s), relevant GPs may only register patients in the immediate area in which he/she was in general practice during the period 1st September 2008 to 31st August 2009. Any exemptions to this requirement will require the prior approval of the HSE, following consultation with the IMO.
These entry provisions are subject to the normal rules of good character and suitable premises and do not restrict or affect other existing rules on entry. Furthermore, persons obtaining contracts under these provisions will enjoy appropriate benefits determined on a pro rata basis, in accordance with existing arrangements.
A doctor gaining access to the GMS under these entry provisions shall for the transition period hold no more than one medical card contract and one GP visit card contract simultaneously. The normal GMS rules on centres of practice apply in accordance with the GMS Contract.
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Last updated at: Jan 27 2010 12:50PM
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