Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 January 2024
316. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will examine the current levels of GP cover on the Iveragh Peninsula; if he will formulate a plan to address the shortage of GPs in the area; if he will provide incentives for GPs to locate to the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2270/24]
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 2,518 GPs contracted to provide services under the GMS Scheme.
For GMS patients unable to locate a GP themselves, the Health Service Executive may assign an eligible person to be included on a medical practitioner's GMS list, in accordance with the GMS contract.
The Government has undertaken several measures to increase the number of GPs working across the country and thereby improve access to GP services for all patients. The 2019 GP Agreement provided for increased annual investment of over €211 million for general practice, providing for increased GMS GP fees, supports and new services. In particular the 2019 Agreement increased the enhanced supports package for rural GP practices by 10%. A further €30 million has been provided for under the GP Agreement 2023 for practice supports to expand and retain practice staff.
The annual intake of doctors into the GP training programme has been increased by 80% from 2015 to 2023; there were 286 new entrants to GP training in 2023 and it is planned to increase the number of places for new entrants to 350 for this year. Furthermore, the joint HSE ICGP non-EU Rural GP Programme commenced last year with the intention of bring up to 100 non-EU GPs to Ireland in 2023, and it is planned to bring up to 250 more non-EU GPs here by the end of this year.
The Strategic Review of General Practice, which is currently underway, is examining the broad range of issues affecting general practice, including issues related to GP capacity and the consideration of mechanisms to attract GPs to rural and urban deprived areas. When completed, the review will set out recommendation actions to deliver a more sustainable general practice into the future.
In relation to the level of GP services available on the Iveragh Peninsula, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly with an update.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
