Draft GP contract promised by mid-April

Primary care: The Health Service Executive (HSE) has said it will have a new draft contract for general practitioners for the provision of State-funded primary care services drawn up for consideration within the next six weeks.

The draft contract is expected to involve GPs playing a greater role in dealing with chronic medical conditions in the community, providing extended services for public patients on a more flexible basis including late evening and early morning surgery hours as well as becoming more accountable for the expenditure of public funds.

Talks on a review of the current State contract with GPs, which the Government considers to be a very important part of its overall healthcare reforms, have been ongoing for several months.

It is understood that at a meeting last week the HSE gave a commitment to have a draft contract on the table by the time of the Irish Medical Organisation's (IMO's) annual conference in mid-April.

A HSE spokesman said it was acknowledged that there would have to be radical reform of the current arrangements.

The IMO, which represents GPs, has welcomed the commitment of the HSE to have a draft contract drawn up but said the question of how this is funded and delivered would be critical.

In an interview at the weekend, Minister for Health Mary Harney said she wanted to see GPs becoming more involved in dealing with chronic conditions. It is understood that health service management believe diabetes could be managed in the primary care setting.

Ms Harney also urged that the new contract should facilitate GPs working together to a greater extent in group practices.

The Tánaiste has also indicated in recent weeks that she wants GPs more involved in the provision of structured preventive health and screening programmes. This could involve GPs providing regular health check-ups, screening for diseases and monitoring blood pressure.

It is understood that the Tánaiste has specifically requested that the issue of GP involvement in the national cervical screening programme be included as part of the review talks with the IMO.

However, she has indicated in the Dáil that any remuneration arrangements agreed in this area would have to be capable of delivering a high uptake among women and that "payments must be primarily based on reaching acceptable targets".