Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

There are currently 12 vacant General Medical Services GP panels in the HSE Dublin north east region, which includes Cavan, Monaghan, Louth and Meath. Since January 2014, the HSE has advertised nine vacant panels in this region. Next month, the HSE is planning to advertise a further five posts in this region. Two of these posts are located in Cavan and are currently filled in a locum capacity. The Monaghan post is also being covered by a locum. The other two impending vacancies are due to upcoming retirements, one in Louth and one in Meath. In the meantime, both of these GPs are continuing to provide services to their patients. It is not uncommon for GMS panels to be covered by a locum GP while the recruitment process is progressing.

There are currently 18 GMS GP vacancies in the other HSE regions, three in Dublin mid-Leinster, seven in the south and eight in the west. Of these, one panel will be filled in December. Some 12 panels have already been advertised. Four panels will be advertised shortly and one panel is being dispersed among existing GPs in the relevant area.

The HSE is currently working on the development of a medical workforce planning system, which is expected to be completed by June 2015. As part of this, workforce planning for general practice will be prioritised in the development of projections based on both the supply of GPs and the demand for GP services over the next 20 years.

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