Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 July 2023
1113. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health what measures are being taken to address the shortage of GPs for County Cork; how many individuals are waitlisted for GP services currently in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35702/23]
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 2,545 GPs contracted to provide services under the GMS Scheme.
As GPs are private practitioners, the scheduling of consultations is a matter for each individual practice. The HSE does not maintain waiting lists for GP services. Where scheduling is required, GPs prioritise appointments based on urgency and health need.
The Government is aware of the workforce issues currently facing general practice, including the limited access to GP services in certain areas, and is working to ensure that general practice is sustainable in all areas into the future.
Under the 2019 GP Agreement additional annual expenditure provided for general practice has been increased now by €211.6m. This provides for significant increases in capitation fees for participating GMS GPs, and new fees and subsidies for additional services. Improvements to GP’s maternity and paternity leave arrangements and a support for GPs in disadvantaged urban areas, have also been provided for. In addition, the enhanced supports package for rural GP practices was increased by 10%.
These measures will make general practice in Ireland a more attractive career choice and will see an increase in the number of GPs working in the State, improving access to GP services for patients throughout the country.
As recently announced, agreement has been reached with the IMO to extend eligibility for GP visit cards to people who earn up to the median household income and to children aged 6 & 7. Approximately 500,000 additional persons are expected to become eligible for free GP care under this expansion, the largest expansion of access to GP care without charges in the history of the State. This new GP agreement includes additional capacity supports to enable the expansion and retention of staffing within general practice. It also includes additional supports for GP Out of Hours services.
In addition, the number of doctors entering GP training has been increased significantly in recent years, rising from 193 in 2019 to 287 this year, with 350 places now planned for next year. Furthermore, the joint HSE and ICGP programme to bring up to 100 non-EU GPs to Ireland in 2023 will help to quickly improve access to GP services, particularly in areas with limited access. The programme is on target to bring 100 non-EU GPs to Ireland this year, and it is planned to bring to Ireland up to 250 more non-EU GPs by the end of 2024.
Lastly, my Department and the HSE have commenced a strategic review of GP services. The review, with input from key stakeholders, will examine the broad range of issues affecting general practice, including issues related to GP capacity, and will set out the measures necessary to deliver a more sustainable general practice into the future.
