Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 February 2022
80. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the action being taken to ensure the availability of an adequate number of general practitioners to meet the demand at various practices throughout the county including in County Kildare which is set to experience a large number of general practitioner retirements that will need to be filled at the earliest possible date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7874/22]
View answerIt is imperative that general practice has the capacity necessary to deliver GP services, particularly as we move towards the provision of more care within the community. In that regard, I note that the number of GPs contracted to provide services to GMS patients has increased in the past 10 years from 2,258 to 2,539, an increase of 12%.
Nonetheless, I am very aware of the workforce issues facing general practice, including changing demographics, the number of GPs nearing retirement, the difficulties in filling a small number of GMS vacancies, and the impact of the shift towards care centred in the community on general practice. The Government has committed to providing significant additional resources to general practice to help to meet those challenges.
The 2019 Agreement with GPs will see investment in general practice increase by approximately 40%, or €210 million annually once the Agreement is fully implemented. We are on schedule in the delivery of those resources, with an increase of funding of €143.6 million provided between 2019 and 2021, and an additional €63 million provided in Budget 2022.
The 2019 Agreement provides for significant increases in capitation fees for participating GPs, and new fees and subsidies for additional services. The Agreement also provides for increased support for GPs in disadvantaged urban areas, and for improvements to maternity and paternity leave arrangements.
Previously, changes were made to the entry provisions to the GMS scheme to accommodate more flexible GMS GP contracts, and to the retirement provisions for GPs under the scheme, allowing GPs to hold GMS contracts until their 72nd birthday, while enhanced supports for rural GP practices were introduced, and since increased by the 2019 GP Agreement, to support rural GPs and make rural GMS panels more attractive.
The number of GPs entering training has increased steadily in recent years from 120 in 2009 to 233 trainees enrolled in 2021. Further increases are expected following the transfer of responsibility for training from the HSE to the Irish College of General Practitioners.
The vital role played by general practice and GPs individually throughout the COVID crisis is acknowledged. General practice has continued to operate, providing both Covid and non-Covid care to their patients. In return, the Government has provided substantial additional payments of over €300 million to general practice to enable GPs to provide: consultation services; assessments and referrals for Covid tests; Covid respiratory clinics; and Covid vaccinations. This is a demonstration of what general practice can do when properly resourced and is a positive indicator for the future.
