GPs 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 2,539 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 this month, there are 30 GMS vacancies, approximately 1 percent of the total number of panels, there are no vacancies in Finglas.
The Government has taken a number of steps to increase the number of GPs practicing in the State and thereby increase access to GP services.
Investment in GP services has been increased significantly under the 2019 GP Agreement which now provides for an additional €211.6m in annual expenditure for general practice. The Agreement, amongst other things, increased the fees for participating GPs and improved GMS GP maternity and paternity leave arrangements, to improve the attractiveness of working in general practice in Ireland.
The number of doctors entering GP training has been increased approximately ten percent year on year from 2019, rising from 193 in 2019 to 258 in 2022, and a further large increase to 285 is planned for this year. Working with the ICGP, it is aimed to have 350 training places available for new entrants per year by 2026. The number of applications from doctors to undertake GP training has also increased year on year from 2019, with 446 applications received in 2019 rising to a record 968 applications received this year.
In addition, the HSE is currently working with the ICGP on a programme to bring 100 non-EU GPs to Ireland in 2023 to help improve access to GP services, particularly in areas with limited access. These new additional posts will work in general practice for a 2-year period following which they will be able to take up a GMS contract. The programme commenced with 25 posts having started in January and is progressing to meet the target of 100 additional non-EU GP placements by year end.
I recently published the Terms of Reference for the Strategic review of General Practice which will commence shortly and is to be completed this year. The review, with input from key stakeholders, will examine the broad range of issues affecting general practice including issues related to GP capacity, such as the provision of services in areas where service delivery is challenging and the support model necessary to underpin the provision of sustainable GP services. Having examined these issues, a report will set out the measures necessary to deliver a better general practice.
