Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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878. To ask the Minister for Health the arrangements that are in place for people who require out-of-hours GP care on an emergency basis, who do not have their own GP due to many GP’s saying their lists are full; the options that are available to people who are in these situations other than going to the nearest accident and emergency department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7448/25]

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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GPs contracted under the General Medical Services Scheme are required by their contract to make suitable arrangements to enable their patients to contact them, or a locum or deputy, for emergencies outside of normal practice hours. Most GPs participate in GP out of hours co-operatives as a means of meeting the contractual requirement, such services facilitate the provision of GP services outside of normal surgery hours and help to spread the burden of this provision. Only a small number of areas are not covered by GP out of hours co-operatives, instead out of hours services are provided by local GPs.

GP our of hours cooperatives provide services to all GMS patients registered with member doctors (including patients with GP Visit Cards), GMS patients temporarily visiting in the area and all private patients of participating GPs. Patients outside of these categories may be seen and treated if deemed clinically urgent.

Where a person that 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 Eligibility 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 practices in the surrounding areas. The HSE website provides a "Find a GP" facility which can assist in finding nearby GP practices.

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, recruitment of GPs from abroad commenced in 2023 under the joint HSE and ICGP 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.