Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 October 2018
425. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the research or data he has commissioned or his attention has been drawn to regarding the number and location of general practitioner surgeries that are no longer accepting new patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43637/18]
View answerI am aware of reports of some general practitioners no longer accepting new patients.
Where a medical card or GP visit card holder experiences difficulty in finding a GP to accept him/her as a patient, the HSE has the power to assign that person to a GP's GMS patient list where the person has been removed from another GP's list or refused entry onto a GP's list, and the person has unsuccessfully applied to at least three GPs in the area who are contracted to provide services under the GMS scheme.
The assignment of a GMS patient to a GP's list can be reviewed by the HSE on the request of the GP after 6 months from the date of assignment, and, if appropriate, the patient can then be reassigned to an alternative GP.
Persons who do not hold a medical card or GP visit card access GP services on a private basis.
GPs are private contractors and issues relating to the acceptance of private patients are a matter of private contract between the clinician and his/her patients.
While I have no role in relation to such matters, I would expect clinicians to consider the importance of patients having access to a GP service close to home when deciding whether or not to accept private patients.
More generally, the Government is aware of workforce issues facing general practice, including the influence of demographic factors, and has implemented a number of measures to improve recruitment and retention in general practice.
GPs play a crucial role in the provision of primary care services. The number of GPs on the specialist register continues to increase – up from 2,270 in 2010 to 3,668 in 2018 and the number of GPs with a GMS contract has also risen from 2,098 in 2008 to 2,494 as at 1 July 2018.
GP training places have been increased from 120 in 2009 to 193 in 2018 and the Government's objective is to continue to achieve annual increases in the number of training places available while ensuring that all of the places are filled.
Entry provisions to the GMS scheme have been changed to accommodate more flexible GMS contracts and the retirement age has been extended to 72. An enhanced support package for rural practices has been introduced with improved qualifying criteria and an increased financial allowance of €20,000 per annum.
The Government remains committed to the continued development of GP capacity to ensure that patients across the country continue to have access to GP services and that general practice remains an attractive career option.
