Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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420. To ask the Minister for Health the solutions available to people who are unable to source a GP in County Wexford to take them on as a patient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37362/24]

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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421. To ask the Minister for Health where people in County Wexford without a GP should attend if they need ongoing regular medical checkups or treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37363/24]

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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424. To ask the Minister for Health the solutions available to a person deemed eligible for a medical card but unable to source a GP to take them on as a patient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37366/24]

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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425. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department will assist a person (details supplied) to source a GP in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37367/24]

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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426. To ask the Minister for Health if he will assist a person (details supplied) in need of regular treatment for haemochromatosis in sourcing a GP in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37368/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 420, 421, 424, 425 and 426 together.

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.

Where a person who holds a medical card or GP visit card, experiences difficulty in finding a GP to accept them as a patient, that person 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 a GMS patient to a GP's GMS patient list in accordance with the GMS contract.

People who do not hold a medical card or GP visit card access GP services on a private basis and can make enquiries directly to any GP practice they wish to register with. As private practitioners, it is a matter for each individual GP to decide whether to accept additional private patients. Where a GP practice has a full list of patients and cannot take on new patients, patients should contact other GP practices in the surrounding areas. The HSE website provides a "Find a GP" facility which can assist in finding nearby GP practices.

It is worth noting that eligibility for a GP visit card was extended last year to all those who earn up to the median household income, which has greatly increased the number of persons eligible for a GP visit card. The qualifying threshold calculation takes into consideration the applicant’s particular expenses and the number of dependents as well as their income, allowing for those who have a higher income but also experience high expenses to potentially qualify for a card.

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.

Annual intake to the GP training scheme has been increased by approximately 80% over the last 5 years. 347 new entrants commenced training this year, a 21% increase on last year’s intake of 286. Furthermore, the recruitment of GPs from abroad is ongoing under the International Medical Graduate (IMG) Rural GP Programme. 121 GPs were enrolled under the International Medical Graduate programme last year and resources have been provided 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.