Written answers

Wednesday, 22 January 2025

Department of Health

General Practitioner Services

Photo of Niamh SmythNiamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1556. To ask the Minister for Health to review the case of a person (details supplied) needing advice on obtaining a GP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1458/25]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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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. Eligibility for a medical card, or a GP visit card for those aged between 8 and 69 years of age, is primarily based on means testing. All children under 8 years of age and all those aged 70 years and over are eligible for a GP visit card.

Where a person that holds a medical card or GP visit card, or a person eligible for either 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 a GMS patient to a GP's GMS patient list, in accordance with the GMS contract. Likewise, a parent on behalf of an eligible child who experiences difficulty in finding a GP that will accept their child as a patient can apply to the HSE National Medical Card Unit also.

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.

A number of measures have been taken in recent years to increase the number of GPs practicing in the State and thereby improve access to GP services for all patients 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% from 2019 to 2024, with 350 new entrant training places made available from 2024. 346 new entrants commenced training last year, a 21% increase on the previous year’s intake of 286.

Furthermore, the recruitment of GPs from abroad is ongoing under the International Medical Graduate (IMG) Rural GP Programme. 114 IMG GPs were in practice as of October last and funding has been provided to recruit up to 250 more GPs from outside Ireland to the country this year.

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