Michael Harty (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

On the recruitment of GPs, there are of course difficulties in rural practice and these are well documented. There is now a problem, however, in filling GP lists in urban centres. When a GP retires or when a GP has an assistant who then emigrates or moves on, there is great difficulty in recruiting replacements. GPs can obviously get ill or die when still in practice and this can be an unpredictable event. How does the HSE intervene in trying to anticipate the replacement of GPs coming up to retirement? We know that 33% of GPs are over the age of 55. Many retire and the HSE is unaware that this is about to happen. GPs can now practise until they are 72. How does the HSE engage in trying to anticipate the retirement of GPs and filling those posts before the retirement is announced?