Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2021
972. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the position regarding efforts to secure new general practitioners for Ballyduff, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52719/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraGPs are self-employed private 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. Where a vacancy arises in a practice with a GMS contract, the HSE becomes actively involved in the selection process to find a replacement GP.
In June 2021, Cork Kerry Community Healthcare was notified that a GMS post in Ballyduff would become vacant in September. An interim GP service has been arranged whilst the process of securing a permanent GP for the area is taking place. All GMS patients have been advised of this interim arrangement.
The GP Service, inclusive of nursing services, continues to be provided within the Ballyduff area whilst on-going recruitment campaigns are initiated to provide permanent filling of this post. Two recruitment campaigns were launched in July and September, however unfortunately, they have failed to yield a successful candidate. The HSE will launch another campaign in the near future and continue to provide an interim GP service within the Ballyduff area.
The Government is aware of the workforce issues currently facing general practice in certain areas and a number of measures to improve recruitment and retention in general practice have been implemented.
These measures include an increase in investment in general practice by approximately 40% (€210 million) between 2019 and 2023 under the terms of the 2019 GMS GP Agreement GP. The Agreement provides for increased support for GPs working in rural practices and for those in disadvantaged urban areas, and for improvements to maternity and paternity leave arrangements. In addition, the number of GPs entering training has been increased steadily over the past ten years, rising from 120 in 2009 to 233 in 2021, with further increases expected.
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.
