Marie Sherlock (Dublin Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

150. To ask the Minister for Health whether she is satisfied that, by reference to the ratio between GPs operating the GMS scheme and eligible persons, the general practitioner medical service is provided by the HSE evenly throughout the State; whether blackspots have been identified where, due to a local shortage of GPs, delivery of the service is sub-optimum and, if so, if any particular benchmark is used; if she is concerned at the failure to provide a statutory service under her aegis at the same level of adequacy to all eligible persons regardless of their place of residence; to outline any proposals to ensure a minimum level of GP service throughout the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26105/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

GPs are self-employed practitioners and therefore may establish practices at a place of their own choosing. There is no prescribed ratio of GPs to patients and the State does not regulate the number of GPs that can set up in a town or community.

Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. As of the 1st of May, there are 2,552 GPs contracted to provide services under the GMS scheme and a further 625 GPs do not hold a GMS contract but hold at least one other contract with the HSE for the provision of health services.

The Government is aware that there is limited access to GP services in certain areas and that more GPs are needed to improve the availability of GP services.

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 there), 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.

Several measures have been taken in recent years to increase the number of GPs practicing throughout the country and thereby improve GP access.

Significant increases in investment in general practice has been provided under the 2019 and 2023 GP Agreements. 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, including the introduction of a support for practices in urban areas of social deprivation.

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.

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. As a result, the number of GP graduates has increased in recent years and will continue to increase in the coming years.

Furthermore, recruitment of GPs from abroad is ongoing under the International Medical Graduate (IMG) Rural GP Programme. 119 IMG GPs were in practice as of November last and funding has been provided to recruit up to 250 more GPs to Ireland this year.