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General Practitioner Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 June 2022

Wednesday, 15 June 2022

Questions (194)

Emer Higgins

Question:

194. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is no general practitioner in Newcastle, County Dublin currently accepting patients with a medical card or general practitioner visit card while other nearby practices including at Rathcoole and Saggart are at full capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31052/22]

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Written answers

GPs are self-employed private practitioners and therefore may establish practices at a place of their own choosing. Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. Currently there are 2,551 GPs contracted to provide services under the GMS scheme. Where a vacancy arises in a practice with a GMS contract, the HSE becomes actively involved in the recruitment process to find a replacement GP. As of the 1st of May 2022, there are no GMS vacancies in the areas concerned.

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 (or fewer if there are fewer GPs in the area) can apply to the HSE National Medical Card Unit which has the power to assign a GMS patient to a GP's GMS patient list.

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. These changes and others make general practice in Ireland a more attractive career choice.

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. Responsibility for training has transferred last year from the HSE to the Irish College of General Practitioners and an intake of 258 trainees is planned for this year, with further increases expected for future years.

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.

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