Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 May 2018
60. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to Irish Medical Organisation data which predicts that 41% of general practitioners in County Mayo will retire over the next five to seven years. [23542/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra67. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to Irish Medical Organisation data which predicts that 27% of general practitioners in County Dublin will retire over the next five to seven years. [23519/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra115. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to Irish Medical Organisation data which predicts that 30% of general practitioners in County Galway will retire over the next five to seven years. [23512/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra123. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to Irish Medical Organisation data which predicts that almost 50% of general practitioners in County Leitrim will retire over the next five to seven years. [23515/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra426. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to Irish Medical Organisation data which predicts that 42% of general practitioners in County Kilkenny will retire over the next five to seven years. [23547/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 60, 67, 115, 123 and 426 together.
The Government is committed to the continued development of GP capacity to ensure that patients across the country continue to have access to GP services, especially in remote rural areas and also in disadvantaged urban areas, and that general practice is sustainable in all areas into the future. I want to ensure that existing GP services are retained and that general practice remains an attractive career option for newly-qualified GPs.
I acknowledge the important role that GPs play in our health service and I recognise the commitment of GPs to ensuring a responsive, accessible and high-quality service to patients. The number of GPs on the specialist register continues to increase – up from 2,270 in 2010 to 3,668 as of 18 May 2018 and there are now 2,491 GPs contracted by the HSE under the GMS scheme compared to 2,098 in 2008. It should be noted that as of 1st March there were only 23 GMS panels that do not have a permanent GP in place – a vacancy rate of less than 1%.
Over the past 6 years, an average of 143 GPs per year entered the GMS scheme compared with an average of 111 GPs per year exiting the scheme for the same period. During 2016 and 2017, an average of 158 GPs per year entered the GMS Scheme compared with an average of 132 GPs per year exiting the scheme for the same period.
The Government is aware of the manpower issues facing general practice and has taken steps to increase the number of GP training places. In 2009, there were 120 General Practice training places available and this year it is expected that over 190 training places will be filled, an increase of around 60% over a nine year period. We will continue to work to improve the recruitment and retention in general practice in the coming years. Our objective is to achieve further increases in the number of GP training places in future years, and to ensure that all the available places are filled, in order to meet the future manpower needs of general practice.
Other efforts undertaken in recent years to increase the number of practicing GPs include changes to the entry provisions to the GMS scheme to accommodate more flexible contracts, and to the retirement provisions for GPs under the GMS scheme, allowing GPs to hold GMS contracts until their 72nd birthday. An enhanced supports package for rural practices has also been introduced which includes improved qualifying criteria for rural support and an increase in the financial allowance from €16,216 to €20,000 per annum.
The Government is committed to engaging with GP representatives on the development of a package of measures and reforms to modernise the current GMS contract which will benefit patients and also prove attractive to GPs. The aim is to develop a contract which has a population health focus, providing in particular for health promotion and disease prevention and for the structured ongoing care of chronic conditions. There is potential for Government expenditure on general practice to increase significantly in coming years if the consultations are successful. Officials from my Department and the HSE met with the Irish Medical Organisation earlier this month in order to progress this agenda. Consultations with the National Association of General Practitioners are also planned.
