Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 June 2018
403. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the measures he plans to implement to deal with the imminent shortage of general practitioners, particularly in rural practices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27907/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraGeneral Practitioners play an important role in the primary care system. The number of General Practitioners on the specialist register continues to increase – up from 2,270 in 2010 to 3,668 as at 18 May 2018 and the number of GPs contracted by the HSE under the GMS scheme has also risen from 2,098 in 2008 to 2,497 as of 1 June 2018.
The Government is aware of the manpower issues facing general practice and has taken steps to increase the number of General Practice training places accordingly.
In 2009, there were 120 General Practice training places available and this year we expect to fill 194 training places, an increase of around 60% over a nine year period. There were over 400 applications for the 2018 training programme which is a significant increase of almost 50% on the number of applications from 2017.
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/shared GMS/GP 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 €16,216.07 to €20,000 per annum.
The Government is also committed to engaging with General Practitioner representatives on necessary service improvements and contractual reforms to the current GMS contract. Our goal is to develop a contractual framework that has a population health focus, providing in particular for health promotion, disease prevention and for the structured care of chronic conditions. This will enable general practitioners to better meet the needs of patients and will also promote general practice as a viable and rewarding career for both existing doctors and future medical graduates.
Officials from my Department and the HSE met with the Irish Medical Organisation on 9 May to set out the State's position in relation to the GMS contract and to progress this important issue. The Department also wrote to the Irish Medical Organisation on 14 May to set out the proposals made at that meeting in writing and is currently awaiting the Organisation's official response.
