Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 May 2015
320. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the overall number of general practitioners; the number training each year at each level; the way Ireland's ratio of general practitioners to 1,000 patients compares internationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19434/15]
View answerOn 30th April 2015, 2,404 GPs were contracted to provide services under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme. On that date, there were 3,067 medical practitioners registered on the Specialist Division of the Medical Council’s Register in the Specialty of General Practice. Holding registration does not necessarily mean that the medical practitioner is in active practice in General Practice at this time. The above figure states the number of practitioners registered and entitled to practice as specialists in General Practice.
On 1st July 2010, the total GP trainee intake increased from 120 to 157 training places per year for the 14 GP Specialist (Vocational) Training Programmes. Currently all GP training programmes are of 4 years duration. The HSE has recently been in discussion with the Irish College of General Practitioners about the potential to increase this year's trainee intake. This has resulted in an additional four training places for the July 2015 intake.
The data for 2012 in respect of GPs per 1,000 head of population collated by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) indicates that Ireland comes around mid-table with 0.72 GPs. This compares with France (top) with 1.56 GPs and Korea (bottom) with 0.12 GPs. Only four countries on the list exceeded one GP per 1,000 head of population. The United Kingdom had 0.8 GPs. OECD data for 2013 is not yet available but the ratio for Ireland has increased to 0.75 GPs per 1,000 for that year.
