Health (Amendment) Act 2005

General practitioner medical and surgical service.

5.—The Health Act 1970 is amended by substituting the following for section 58:

“General practitioner medical and surgical service.

58.—(1) The Health Service Executive shall make available without charge a general practitioner medical and surgical service for a person in any of the following categories—

(a) persons with full eligibility,

(b) adult persons with limited eligibility for whom, in the opinion of the Health Service Executive, and notwithstanding that they do not come within the category mentioned in section 45(1)(a), it would be unduly burdensome to arrange general practitioner medical and surgical services for themselves and their dependants, and

(c) dependants who are ordinarily resident in the State of the persons referred to in paragraph (b).

(2) In deciding whether or not a person comes within the category mentioned in subsection (1)(b), the Health Service Executive shall have regard to the person's overall financial situation (including the means of the spouse, if any, of that person in addition to the person's own means) in view of the person's reasonable expenditure in relation to himself or herself and his or her dependants, if any.

(3) Insofar as it is considered practicable by the Health Service Executive, a choice of medical practitioner shall be offered under the general practitioner medical and surgical service made available under this section.”.