1193. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the support that can be provided for out-of-hours patient care when a GP has to withdraw from arrangements such as South Doc (details supplied). [37582/26]

GPs are private practitioners, most of whom hold a GMS contract with the HSE for the provision of GP services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders.

GPs are required under the GMS contract to make suitable arrangements to enable their patients to contact them, or a locum or deputy, for emergencies outside of normal practice hours. Most GPs 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. However, it is a matter for GMS GPs to determine how they meet this requirement.

For GPs that do not hold a GMS contract, provision of out of hours services for their patients it is a matter for the GP themselves. Equally, the provision of out of hours GP services to private patients is a matter of private contract between the GP concerned and their patients.

Nonetheless, given the particular nature of the query presented in this question, I have asked the HSE for further briefing on the situation.