Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 May 2024
43. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of GPs currently practicing in Meath; the number of new GPs who have taken up work in each of the years 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; if he plans to increase this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19726/24]
View answerGPs are self-employed 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. As of the start of April, there are 2,526 GPs contracted to provide services under the GMS Scheme, and a further 602 GPs hold some other contract with the HSE for the provision of health services such as services under the Primary Childhood Immunisation Scheme or National Cancer Screening Service.
In relation to the numbers of HSE contacted GPs practicing in Meath, and those who have taken up contracts annually since 2021, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
The Government is working to increase the number of GPs practicing throughout the country and thereby to improve access to GP services.
Under the 2019 GP Agreement additional annual expenditure provided for general practice was increased by €211.6m. This provided for significant increases in capitation fees for participating GMS GPs, and new fees for additional services and increased practice supports. The GP Agreement 2023 further increased GP capitation fees, increased the existing subsidy rates for practice staff, and introduced a grant support for additional staff capacity as well a practice staff maternity leave support.
The number of doctors entering GP training has been increased significantly in recent years, with 286 new entrants in 2023 and 350 places planned for new entrants for this year. Annual intake to the GP training scheme has been increased by over 80% from 2015 to 2023, and the number of new entrant places to be available this year is a 22% increase on last year's intake alone.
Furthermore, GP recruitment is ongoing under the joint International Medical Graduate Rural GP Programme between the HSE and ICGP. 112 non-EU GPs were recruited last year under the training programme and it is planned to recruit up to 250 more GPs from outside Ireland to the country this year. The placement of GPs under the programme is targeted to rural and underserviced areas.
Finally, my Department and the HSE have commenced a Strategic Review of General Practice. The review, with input from key stakeholders, is examining the broad range of issues affecting general practice including issues related to GP capacity. When completed, the review will set out the measures necessary to deliver a more sustainable general practice into the future.
