Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022
1713. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health the assistance that is available to a private patient to help them to register with a general practitioner in their area in cases in which they are unable to access a general practitioner service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1403/22]
View answer1738. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health the process for persons moving residence who cannot find an available general practice to accept them as patients in their new area of residence; the supports available from the HSE for persons in this position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1467/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1713 and 1738 together.
Where a GMS patient experiences difficulty in finding a GP to accept him/her as a patient, the person concerned having unsuccessfully applied to at least three GPs in the area can apply to the HSE National Medical Card Unit which has the power to assign that person to a GP's GMS patient list.
People who do not hold a medical card or GP visit card access GP services on a private basis and can make enquiries directly to any GP practice they wish to register with. As private contractors, it is a matter for each individual GP to decide whether to accept additional private patients. Where a GP practice has a full list of patients and cannot take on new patients, patients should contact other GP practices in the surrounding areas.
The Government is aware of the workforce issues currently facing general practice, including the limited access to GP services in certain areas, and has implemented a number of measures to improve recruitment and retention in general practice.
These measures include an increase in investment in general practice by approximately 40% (€210 million) between 2019 and 2023 under the terms of the 2019 GMS GP Agreement. The Agreement provides for increased support for GPs working in rural practices and for those working in disadvantaged urban areas, and for improvements to maternity and paternity leave arrangements. In addition, the number of GPs entering training has been increased steadily over the past number of years, rising from 120 in 2009 to 233 in 2021.
These measures will see an increase in the number of GPs working in the State, improving access to GP services for patients throughout the country.
