Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 April 2022
1578. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address the shortage of GMS general practitioners in (details supplied); if he will provide an up-to-date list of current GMS general practitioners operating in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20185/22]
View answerGPs are self-employed practitioners and therefore may establish practices at a place of their own choosing. 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 provisions of the Health (Provision of General Practitioner Services) Act 2012, a GP can enter into a State contract to provide GP services provided he/she is on the Medical Council's Specialist Register in the Speciality of General Practice, irrespective of the number of GPs who are already established in an area.
Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. Where a vacancy arises in a practice with a GMS contract, the HSE becomes actively involved in the selection process to find a replacement GP. As of 1 April, there are 32 GMS vacancies in the State, accounting for only approximately 1 percent of all GP GMS panels. There are no reported GMS vacancies in the area referred to by the Deputy.
The Government is aware of the workforce issues currently facing general practice and is working to ensure patients across the country continue to have access to GP services and that general practice is sustainable in all areas into the future.
The 2019 Agreement on GP contractual reform and service development will see the Government increase annual investment in general practice by approximately 40% (€210 million) between 2019 and 2023. The Agreement provides for increased support for GPs working in rural practices and for those 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, with an intake of 258 planned for this year.
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.
In relation to the GMS GPs operating in the area referred to by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
