Health (General Practitioner Service) Act 2018

What is this act about?

This law amends existing health legislation to provide free general practitioner medical and surgical services to people receiving certain social welfare allowances. It specifically expands access to GP services for carers.

Who it applies to: Persons in receipt of carer’s benefit, carer’s allowance, or a payment under section 186A of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005; The Health Service Executive (HSE).

At a glance

Country: Ireland
Area of law: Labour law
Articles: 5
Source: irishstatutebook.ie
Text retrieved: 2026-06-17
Explanation updated: 2026-07-07

What does this act regulate?

The provision of general practitioner medical and surgical services.
Amendments to sections 47 and 47A of the Health Act 1970.
The conditions under which individuals can receive these services without charge.
The information required from individuals to establish their eligibility for the service.

Who does this act apply to?

Persons in receipt of carer’s benefit, carer’s allowance, or a payment under section 186A of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005.
The Health Service Executive (HSE).

What are the key points?

The Health Service Executive must provide a free general practitioner medical and surgical service to eligible persons.
Eligible persons include those receiving carer’s benefit or carer’s allowance under the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, or a payment under section 186A of that Act.
Individuals must provide information to the HSE when requested to prove their eligibility.
Failure to provide requested information within a reasonable period may result in the loss of entitlement to the service.
A choice of medical practitioner should be offered where practicable.

Labour law

Unemployment Assistance (Amendment) Act, 1940

Presidential Elections (Amendment) Act, 1946

Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Act, 1976

Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Act 2023

Trade Loans (Guarantee) Act, 1924

Pensions (Abatement) Act, 1965

National Bank Transfer Act, 1966

Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act 2012

Labour law

Legal text

Contents (5)

Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5

Health (General Practitioner Service) Act 2018 Skip to content Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Gaeilge Léim go dtí an t-ábhar Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach English Gaeilge English Produced by the Office of the Attorney General Táirgthe ag Oifig an Ard-Aighne Home Legislation Acts of the Oireachtas Statutory Instruments Pre-1922 Legislation Constitution External Resources Bills (Houses of the Oireachtas) Iris Oifigiúil / Official Gazette Revised Acts (LRC) Classified List of Legislation (LRC) Translations (acts.ie) Translations (Houses of the Oireachtas) Government Publications for Sale EU Law (EUR-Lex) FAQ Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Search Baile Reachtaíocht Achtanna an Oireachtais Ionstraimí Reachtúla Reachtaíocht Réamh-1922 Bunreacht Acmhainní Seachtracha Billí (Tithe an Oireachtais) Iris Oifigiúil Achtanna Athbhreithnithe (CAD) (An Coimisiún um Athchóiriú an Dlí) Liosta Rangaithe Reachtaíochta Aistriúcháin (achtanna.ie) Aistriúcháin (Tithe an Oireachtais) Foilseacháin Rialtais ar Díol Dlí AE (EUR-Lex) CCanna (Ceisteanna Coitianta) Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach Cuardach TitleTeideal Year(s) or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile ActsAchtanna 2018 Health (General Practitioner Service) Act 2018 Health (General Practitioner Service) Act 2018 Permanent Page URL View by SectionAmharc de réir Ailt View Full ActAmharc ar an Acht Iomlán Bill History Stair Bille Commencement, Amendments, SIs made under the Act Tosach Feidhme, Leasuithe, IRí arna ndéanamh faoin Acht Open PDFOscail PDF Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán Number 13 of 2018 HEALTH (GENERAL PRACTITIONER SERVICE) ACT 2018 CONTENTS

Section 1

1.Definitions

Section 2

2.Amendment of section 47 of Principal Act

Section 3

3.Amendment of section 47A of Principal Act

Section 4

4.General practitioner medical and surgical service for persons in receipt of carer’s allowance or carer’s benefit

Section 5

5.Short title, collective citation and commencement Acts Referred to Health (General Practitioner Service) Act 2014 (No. 28) Health Act 1970 (No. 1) Health Acts 1947 to 2015 Social Welfare Acts Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (No. 26) Number 13 of 2018 HEALTH (GENERAL PRACTITIONER SERVICE) ACT 2018 An Act to amend the Health Act 1970 to provide for the making available of a general practitioner medical and surgical service to persons in receipt of certain allowances under the Social Welfare Acts; and to provide for related matters. [17th July , 2018] Be it enacted by the Oireachtas as follows:

Definitions 1. In this Act— “Act of 2014” means the Health (General Practitioner Service) Act 2014 ; “Principal Act” means the Health Act 1970 .

Amendment of section 47 of Principal Act 2. Section 47 of the Principal Act is amended in subsection (1) (amended by section 2 of the Act of 2014) by the substitution of “58A, 58B or 58D” for “58A or 58B”.

Amendment of section 47A of Principal Act 3. Section 47A (amended by section 3 of the Act of 2014) of the Principal Act is amended by the substitution of “58A, 58B or 58D” for “58A or 58B”.

General practitioner medical and surgical service for persons in receipt of carer’s allowance or carer’s benefit 4. The Health Act 1970 is amended by the insertion of the following section after section 58C (inserted by section 5 of the Act of 2014): “58D. (1) The Health Service Executive shall make available without charge a general practitioner medical and surgical service for a person who is in receipt of— (a) carer’s benefit within the meaning of Chapter 14 of Part 2 of the Act of 2005, (b) carer’s allowance within the meaning of Chapter 8 of Part 3 of the Act of 2005, or (c) a payment under section 186A of the Act of 2005.

(2)A person shall, when requested to do so by the Health Service Executive, furnish to the Health Service Executive such information as the Health Service Executive considers necessary for it to establish that the person is, or continues to be, entitled under subsection (1) to the service referred to in that subsection.

(3)Where a person fails or refuses to furnish the information requested by the Health Service Executive under subsection (2) within such reasonable period as is specified in the request, the Health Service Executive may treat the person concerned as if he or she was not entitled under subsection (1) to the service referred to in that subsection.

(4)Insofar as 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.

(5)In this section “Act of 2005” means the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 .”.

Short title, collective citation and commencement 5. (1) This Act may be cited as the Health (General Practitioner Service) Act 2018.

(2)The Health Acts 1947 to 2015 and this Act may be cited together as the Health Acts 1947 to 2018.

(3)This Act shall come into operation on such day or days as the Minister for Health may appoint by order or orders either generally or with reference to any particular purpose or provision and different days may be so appointed for different purposes or different provisions.

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