Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 November 2020
711. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that general practitioners in Finglas, Dublin 11, are not accepting new medical card patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36260/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhere a GMS patient experiences difficulty in finding a GP to accept him/her as a patient, the person concerned having unsuccessfully applied to at least three GPs in the area can apply to the HSE which has the power to assign that person to a GP's GMS patient list.
People who do not hold a medical card or GP visit card access GP services on a private basis and can make enquiries directly to any GP practice they wish to register with. As private contractors, it is a matter for each individual GP to decide whether to accept additional private patients.
The Government is aware of the workforce issues currently facing general practice, including the limited access to GP services in certain areas, and has implemented a number of measures to improve recruitment and retention in general practice.
The 2019 Agreement on GP contractual reforms will see the Government increase investment in general practice by approximately 40% (€210 million) between 2019 and 2023, providing for significant increases in capitation fees for GPs who participate in the reform programme and the introduction of new fees and subsidies for additional services such as the chronic disease programme. There will be increased support for GPs working in rural practices and for those in disadvantaged urban areas, and improvements have been made to maternity and paternity leave arrangements.
The number of GPs entering training has been increased steadily over the past ten years, rising from 120 in 2009 to 214 in 2020, with a further increase foreseen in 2021.
These measures will see an increase in the number of GPs working in the State, improving access to GP services for patients throughout the country.
