Written answers

Wednesday, 18 January 2023

Department of Health

General Practitioner Services

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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1196. To ask the Minister for Health if access to a local GP will be facilitated in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63332/22]

Photo of Jackie CahillJackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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1358. To ask the Minister for Health the way in which a child (details supplied) can access GP services when the local GP states that they cannot accept them onto their list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63927/22]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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1363. To ask the Minister for Health when a local family GP can be sourced for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63944/22]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1196, 1358 and 1363 together.

Where a patient who holds a medical card or GP visit card experiences difficulty in finding a GP to accept them as a patient, the person concerned having unsuccessfully applied to at least three GPs in the area (or fewer if there are fewer GPs in the area) can apply to the HSE National Medical Card Unit which has the power to assign that person to a GP's GMS patient list. Ukrainian refugees are entitled to apply for a medical card.

People who do not hold a medical card or GP visit card access GP services on a private basis in which the Minister has no role and can make enquiries directly to any GP practice they wish to register with. As private contractors, it is a matter for each individual GP to decide whether to accept additional private patients.

The Government is aware of the workforce issues currently facing general practice and is working to ensure patients across the country continue to have access to GP services and that general practice is sustainable in all areas into the future.

Under the 2019 GP Agreement additional annual expenditure provided for general practice has been increased now by €211.6m. This provides for significant increases in capitation fees for participating GMS GPs, and new fees and subsidies for additional services. Improvements to GP’s maternity and paternity leave arrangements, increased rural practice supports and a support for GPs in disadvantaged urban areas, have also been provided for.

The number of GPs entering training has increased steadily over the past number of years, rising from 120 in 2009 to 258 in 2022. The transfer of GP training from the HSE to the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) which was concluded in 2021 will allow for the introduction of a new service model for GP training in Ireland and the further expansion GP training capacity in the years ahead. The ICGP aims to have 350 training places available for new entrants per year by 2026.

These measures make general practice in Ireland a more attractive career choice and will see an increase in the number of GPs working in the State, improving access to GP services for patients throughout the country.

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