Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 February 2022
732. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners which are estimated to be required to meet current population need demands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4779/22]
View answerGeneral Practitioners are private practitioners. There is no prescribed ratio of GPs to patients and the State does not regulate the number of GPs that can set up in a town or community.
Under the terms of the General Medical Services and GP Visit Card contracts, the maximum number of medical card or GP visit card patients on a GP's patient panel may not exceed 2,000, or 2,200 if the GP also holds an under 6 contract, except in exceptional circumstances. There is no minimum number of patients specified for a panel. The State does not prescribe the number of private patients that may be registered with a GP; this is a matter for individual GP practices.
The Government remain committed to the continued development of GP capacity to ensure that patients continue to have access to GP services.
The number of GPs on the Specialist Division of the Register in General Practice continues to increase – up from 2,270 in 2010 to 4,319 as of 26 January 2022, and the number of GPs contracted by the HSE under the GMS scheme has also risen from 2,098 in 2008 to 2,542 in January 2022. A further 532 GPs not contracted under the GMS scheme are registered to provide other services including the Primary Childhood Immunisation Scheme, Health Amendment Act 1996, Heartwatch, Methadone Treatment Scheme and the National Cancer Screening Service.
There has been a significant increase in the number of GPs entering training in recent years, up from 120 in 2009 to 233 in 2021, with large increases made in recent years. Further increases are expected following the transfer of responsibility for training from the HSE to the Irish College of General Practitioners.
Recent developments in relation to general practice, in particular the 2019 Agreement on Contractual Reform and Service Development, have helped to re-establish general practice in Ireland as an attractive career choice. The additional investment, which will amount to €210 million annually once the Agreement is fully implemented, provides for an increase in capitation fees, improved maternity and paternity arrangements as well as enhanced supports for rural practices. In addition, targeted funding of €2 million will also be set aside to provide additional support to practices in deprived urban areas.
The 2019 GP Agreement includes a commitment to undertake a strategic review of GP services within the lifetime of the Agreement, to examine how best to ensure the provision of GP services in Ireland for the future. The outcome of this review will inform future contractual changes, with preparatory work for the review having begun this year.
