Aisling Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

99. To ask the Minister for Health how she intends to provide targeted supports for newly qualified GPs and to GP practices that take on newly qualified GPs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34811/25]

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

GPs are self-employed practitioners, most of whom hold a GMS contract with the HSE to provide medical services to medical card and GP visit card holders on their behalf. GPs who hold a GMS contract are reimbursed for the services they provide through capitation payments and fee-per-item payments for certain services. Practices also receive a range of financial supports.

Under the GMS scheme, the financial supports available to eligible GPs/GP practices include practice staff supports, locum contributions for leave taking, rural practice supports, and a support for practices in urban areas of deprivation. A contribution to GMS GPs medical indemnity insurance is also paid.

Regarding practice staff supports, GPs are paid a subsidy towards the cost of employing a practice nurse and/or a practice secretary. The rate payable depends on the GP's GMS panel size and the level of experience of the nurse or secretary concerned. A practice manager subsidy is also available. The rate of these subsidies was increased under the 2023 GP Agreement. The 2023 agreement added General Practice Assistant to the staff subsidies, and introduced a new support grant for additional staff capacity as well as a staff support for the taking of maternity leave.

Eligible GMS GPs are provided with locum contributions for various types of leave taking, such as annual leave, sick leave, and study leave. The contribution rates may vary by type and duration, per day or per week, with the locum contribution rates for maternity and paternity leave doubled under the 2019 GP Agreement.

GMS GPs working in rural areas who meet the qualifying criteria receive an annual rural practice support allowance under the Rural Practice Support Framework. The 2019 GP Agreement increased the practice support package for rural GP practices by 10%. Practices in receipt of rural practice supports attract the maximum allowable rates for practice staff support subsidies and locum contributions for leave taking.

Furthermore, a new locum support initiative commenced in May, providing GPs in receipt of rural practice supports with access to a streamlined locum sourcing service. While the GPs themselves will cover the cost of the locum, the HSE will bear the cost of securing the locum. The initiative specifically targets the 239 GPs currently receiving rural practice supports, with an initial focus on the over 130 single-handed GPs working in isolated areas, who often face the greatest challenges in finding cover.

The 2019 GP Agreement also introduced a €2 million per annum support for GP practices in disadvantaged urban areas. The funding may be used for additional health personnel costs or for the provision of additional services.

Other than the practice supports provided under the GMS scheme, financial supports specific to newly qualified GPs are not provided. As part of the underway Strategic Review of General Practice, consideration is to be given to the development of the support model necessary to underpin the provision of GP services in the context of the Sláintecare vision of universal GP access. Following its completion, a final report will be presented to me outlining the findings of the review and setting out recommended actions for a more sustainable general practice.