Terms of Reference for a Strategic Review of General Practice
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
The government has previously set out its intention to undertake a strategic review of the contractual framework for GP services in the context of implementing Sláintecare. The 2019 Agreement on Contractual Reform and Service Development between the Department of Health, the HSE and the IMO includes the following commitment:
The government intends in the context of Sláintecare, to undertake a fundamental review of the contractual framework for GP services so as to develop and put in place arrangements which will ensure a sustainable GP service as a core element of Primary Care, focused on facilitating integrated provision of care in the most appropriate settings.
The Department of Health, with the support of the HSE, will undertake this review and will engage with key stakeholders to identify the challenges facing general practice in ensuring the delivery of a sustainable general practice service within the community and to identify the measures necessary to address those challenges in the context of delivering on the principles of Sláintecare. The review work will be led by a Department of Health Review Project Group supported as necessary by external expertise. Its programme of work will be supported by a Review Steering Group supported by and with input from external GP expertise. To support the review process the HSE GP Oversight group co-chaired by the Chief Operations Officer and Chief Clinical Officer will be the mechanism for the coordinated agreed input from the HSE to enable referral of issues from and input to the process. Responsibility for the output report and its submission to the Minister rests with the Department of Health.
1. Agree and progress a structured programme of ongoing consultative engagements between the Review Project Group and/or the department and the HSE with key sectoral stakeholders to:
2. Direct the collection and analysis of required data and information, including demand and capacity projections;
3. Prepare thematic discussion papers to support the work of the group as appropriate; 4) Use available evidence to inform the review and in particular examine the following:
GP Training
GP Capacity
eHealth Agenda
Out of Hours Reform
Support model
5. Prepare recommendations as appropriate and associated indicative costings;
6. Within 6 months, develop a report for the consideration of the Minister for Health providing:
The Review and the Review Project Group will be supported by a Review Steering Group which will include the department, the HSE and GP expertise, which will:
1. provide direction, guidance and support to the Project Group in examining these issues;
2. agree the broad programme of work proposed by the Project Group;
3. review and provide input, including expert advice, into discussion papers and other outputs prepared by the Review Group;
4. facilitate national and/or international expert input to inform the work of the Group;
5. support the referral of issues to and/or input from the HSE GP Review Oversight Group;
6. advise, assist and provide input to the department Review and recommendations prior to its finalisation by the department
The review process will undertake a structured programme of engagements with key sectoral stakeholders in line with their respective roles and responsibilities. The Review Project Group may also request written submissions on specific themes, as relevant, from stakeholders.
A Department of Health report of the findings of the strategic review will be developed for submission to the Minister within 6 months, providing: