Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 July 2017
719. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the cost of increasing the intake to the annual GP training scheme by 200 for 2017; the first year cost; the full-year cost, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35180/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to the continued development of General Practitioner capacity and to ensuring that patients across the country continue to have access to GP services. The HSE works alongside the Irish College of General Practitioners in actively recruiting and training GP trainees. At present, GP training is delivered by 14 separate GP training programmes throughout the country. GP training programmes are of 4 years duration and all trainees are required to complete 2 years in a hospital setting and 2 years in general practice with a GP trainer.
It would not be possible to increase the number of training places this year on the scale suggested by the Deputy for a number of reasons. Firstly, the candidate selection process for 2017 has been completed and the programme commenced earlier this month. To facilitate such an increase it would be also be necessary to recruit and train additional GP trainers and provide additional doctor training posts in the hospital setting. Instead, the aim is to increase the number of GP training places on an incremental basis over
The annual number of training places available has been increased from 120 in 2009 to 170 in 2017. The Government is committed to further increasing this number in future years.
In relation to costs, year 1 and year 2 of training, GP trainees are based in acute hospitals and fill vacancies at Senior House Officer (SHO) level. The cost for the 1st and 2nd years of training when trainees are based in hospitals is approximately €100,000 per trainee per annum. The cost for the 3rd and 4th years of training when trainees are based in the GP practices in the community is approximately €110,000 per trainee per annum. The overall cost of expanding GP training by a further 200 places would also depend on the cost of various training inputs required. The Department does not hold that specific data.
In 2016 the HSE and the ICGP agreed in principle to transfer operational responsibility for GP training from the HSE to the ICGP and to restructure the organisation of training programmes so as to maximise efficiency and provide a basis for further expansion. Significant progress has been made in advancing implementation of these changes, though some practical matters are still in the process of being resolved by the HSE and the ICGP. This transfer would also likely have implications on the average cost of GP training per trainee per annum.
Officials from my Department and the HSE are working closely with the ICGP to put in place arrangements which will ensure that the future GP workforce needs, including GP training are met. In addition, the GP contracts review process which is currently underway will seek to arrive at contractual arrangements which will ensure that general practice is an attractive, fulfilling and rewarding career option into the future.
