Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
2055. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the measures that he will implement at an early date to address the shortage of General Practitioners, particularly in rural communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41919/22]
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 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.
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. Improved family friendly arrangements are also provided under the GP Agreement, with an increase in the locum rate for maternity and paternity cover, and an increase in the paternity leave allowance from 3 days to 2 weeks. This is in recognition of the need to ensure that general practice is compatible with doctors’ family commitments.
The Agreement also 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. Preparatory work has commenced on this. The review will examine the broad range of issues affecting general practice and will set out measures necessary to deliver a sustainable service into the future. The outcome of this review will inform future contractual changes.
In addition, the number of GPs entering training has increased steadily over the past number of years, rising from 120 in 2009 to 258 places filled in 2022, with plans for further increases in future years.
Overall, 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.
