General Practitioner Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 May 2023

Tuesday, 16 May 2023

Questions (665)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

665. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he agrees that there is a need to introduce salaried GPs in view of the interest in medical graduates in working in this way and as a means of urgently addressing the serious shortage of GPs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22755/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Irish model of general practice is based on private practice, and all GPs providing GP services in Ireland currently are private practitioners. This model has allowed the State to make provision for access to care for the most vulnerable while allowing GPs to develop their practices and sub-specialisations in line with the needs of their patients. It has also allowed the avoidance of any distinction in service delivery between public and private patients.

The Government has taken a number of actions, and has significantly increased investment in general practice, to increase the number of GPs working in the State and to improve access to services. Both interest in general practice training and the number of new entrants undertaking this training have increased in recent years. The number of doctors entering GP training has been increased from 193 in 2019 to 258 in 2022, with 285 places training places planned for this year rising to 350 by 2026.

However, there are recognised challenges in accessing GPs in some parts of the country, often in rural or more deprived areas, and I am open to looking at whether salaried GPs would be a possible solution to such access issues. It should be noted that any proposed model involving salaried GP positions would require careful consideration to ensure the required level of service could be provided for medical card and GP visit card holders.

Under the upcoming Strategic Review of General Practice, consideration will be given to the possible role of HSE-employed GPs, as part of a wider examination of the GP capacity issue. The Terms of Reference for the Strategic Review were published last month and the review will be completed this year.