Health | The extent to which plans are in hand to ensure an adequate GP service throughout County Kildare

QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which plans are in hand to ensure an adequate GP service throughout County Kildare, an area of expanding population; if all efforts can be made to ensure seamless access to quick service; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

GPs are private practitioners, most of whom hold a GMS contract with the HSE for the provision of GP services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. As self-employed practitioners, GPs 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.

The Government is working to increase the number of GPs practicing in the State and thereby improve access to GP services across the country.

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. These measures make general practice in Ireland a more attractive career choice for doctors.

The number of doctors entering GP training has been increased significantly in recent years, with 286 new entrants in 2023 and 350 places made available 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.

Furthermore, GP recruitment is ongoing under the joint International Medical Graduate Rural GP Programme between the HSE and the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP). 121 non-EU GPs were enrolled under the training programme last year and it is planned to recruit up to 250 more GPs from outside Ireland this year. The placement of GPs under the programme is targeted to rural and underserviced areas.

Lastly, a Strategic Review of General Practice is underway. 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.