Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 May 2016
844. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the annual general practitioner training intake; the cost of increasing the intake to 200 for one year; the cost of increasing the intake to 200 each year for four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10309/16]
View answer845. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the cost of introducing 200 salaried general practitioner posts; the cost of doing this over three, four and five years; the cost of introducing salaried medical secretary posts; the cost of doing this over three, four and five years; the cost of employing 200 new practice nurses; the cost of doing this over three, four and five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10310/16]
View answer944. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the increases to be made in general practitioner training places, as per the programme for Government; the increases to be made in therapists and other health professionals; the increases to be made in community pharmacists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10673/16]
View answer949. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the cost of increasing the number of general practitioners training places by 100 over the next five years to 259 annually, as per the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10678/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 844, 845, 944 and 949 together.
The new Programme for Government emphasises the need to focus on enhancing primary healthcare services including building up GP capacity, increasing the number of therapists and other health professionals in primary care. It also commits to expanding the role of community pharmacists, in managing the health of their patients and in medicine prescription.
There are currently 14 GP Specialist (Vocational) Training Programmes in operation in Ireland and doctors who wish to pursue GP training in Ireland may apply for a general practice training post in one of these programmes. At present, all GP training programmes are of 4 years duration and all trainees are required to complete 2 years in a hospital setting and 2 years in general practice with a GP trainer. The number of GP training places increased from 120 prior to 2010 to the current level of 159 per annum. The HSE is planning to further increase the GP trainee intake to 172 with effect from July 2016, which is an increase in capacity of over 40% since 2010.
In addition to the salary costs of the GP trainees themselves, the overall cost of expanding GP training would depend on the cost of various training inputs required. The Department does not hold that specific data. However, it can be said that currently GP trainees are paid an average annual salary of €76,000 for the two years they spend training in a GP practice, whilst the average training cost per trainee is €33,000. Based on these figures, the indicative cost of increasing the current intake from 159 to 200 would be approximately an additional €5 million per annum.
As the HSE does not directly hire GPs, it is not possible to quantify the financial implications for the HSE of additional GPs being hired to provide services to the public health system under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme and other schemes. GPs are remunerated for these services primarily on a capitation basis, with a range of additional support payments and fees for specific items of service, which include allowances for the hiring of practice nurses and secretarial support. The amount payable in respect of certain supports is related to the doctor's panel size. In addition, medical indemnity insurance premia are refunded to contract GPs, also based on the size of each doctor's GMS panel.
As the training of GPs is currently a matter for the Health Service Executive, these questions have been referred to the HSE with a request that they respond directly to the Deputy. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with the Executive.
