Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 September 2026
167. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health if a GP practice can ask a prospective patient whether they hold a medical card, GP visit card or are a private patient; if a practice can refuse or restrict access to an appointment on this basis; and if she will clarify the rules governing this practice. [69040/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraGPs 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.
Under the terms of the GMS contract, GPs are required to provide eligible patients with ''all proper and necessary treatment of a kind usually undertaken by a general practitioner and not requiring special skill or experience of a degree or kind which general practitioners cannot reasonably be expected to possess". Persons who hold a medical card or a GP visit card are not subject to any co-payments or other charges in respect of such services.
It would be necessary for the GP practice to know whether a prospective patient is eligible for services under the GMS contract, i.e. whether they hold or are eligible for a medical card or GP visit card, in order to accept them to the GP's GMS panel.
The GMS contract sets out the requirements for GPs in dealing with patients who hold medical cards and GP visit cards. Under the terms of the contract GPs are not permitted to make surgery arrangements that discriminate between GMS patients and private patients. The scheduling of individual patient appointments is a matter for the GP or GP practice concerned.
