As you may be aware the Paternity Leave and Benefit Act 2016 has come into force from the 1^st September 2016. 

This Act may impact on your practice in 2 different ways.

Firstly it would be our position that GPs who meet the requirements of the Act should be entitled to benefit from the 2 weeks leave prescribed and should receive locum contributions in line with other types of GMS leave. We have written to the HSE to confirm this position. We will update members in this respect. 

Secondly, as employers you should be aware of the entitlements your employees have under this Act. 

This Act entitles an employee who is the father of children to a period of 2 weeks leave within 26 weeks of the birth of the child. This also applies in the case of adoption, and is within 26 weeks of the placement of the child.

The employee must notify you of their intention to take this leave as soon as is practicable, and no later than 4 weeks for the expected date of confinement or placement in the case of adoption.

Employees are entitled to receive certain payments from the Department of Social Protection for this leave. There is no legal obligations to maintain salary and this is a matter to be agreed between you and the employee.

This act only applies to children born or placed on or after the 1^st September 2016. A full copy of the Act can be found here. 

If you have any specific queries about this please contact the IMO at 01 6767273 or by email: gpissues@imo.ie.