Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I am sure the Minister has a better handle on the numbers etc. than do I, but they are quite alarming. The average number of doctors per 1,000 patients is 3.3 in the OECD but in Ireland it is 2.7. Unless those figures rapidly change, that will require action, particularly in areas where GPs see more patients than is the case in other areas. North inner city Dublin has the highest level of patients to doctors in the country at 1,218 patients per GP, while next in line is a rural area, Laois-Offaly, where there are 1,176 patients per GP. Combined with the imposition of a three-day waiting period and the possibility of doctors opting out of or conscientiously objecting to the provision of these services, there could be flashpoints in which there will be real problems accessing services to terminate pregnancies.

We must also very seriously consider the level of general GP care across the country. That needs to be addressed. An alarming 31% of current GPs are due to retire from the profession in the next five years. How will we replace that level of care in a timely fashion?

See this speech in context