The Government is leading the country “into a disaster” by failing to take the recruitment of general practitioners seriously enough, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore, reports RTE.
The Wicklow representative told the Dáil that a local constituent informed her their child required chemotherapy but couldn’t get a referral due to a two-year waiting period to see a GP.
She claimed that six out of every ten GPs are unable to take on new patients because their practices are full, and said that the Coalition’s newly announced training posts were merely “scratching the surface”, reports RTE.
Ms Whitmore pointed out that a strategic review of general practice was launched in 2023 with a one-year timeline but remains incomplete.
She advocated for the urgent hiring of salaried GPs directly employed by the HSE, stating that many medical professionals are reluctant to manage their own practices, which would require them to act not just as doctors, but also as employers and accountants, reports RTE.
The Social Democrats TD also noted that 30% of the 350 new GP trainees are expected to leave the country.
Tánaiste Simon Harris acknowledged that GP recruitment is a “real challenge” in light of Ireland’s growing population and admitted that patients are “waiting too long”, reports RTE.
He maintained that the Government is taking steps to address the issue, noting that 286 GPs were trained in 2023 and the number rose to 346 last year.
Mr Harris also stated that 118 GPs from overseas have been recruited and are currently practising, with another 18 still in training, reports RTE.
The Tánaiste, who also represents Wicklow, said that the model of employing salaried GPs through the HSE is “a good model” and one that should be expanded.
He cautioned, however, that recruitment alone won’t solve the problem, and that GPs also require support to bring on more nurses and help triage the care they deliver, reports RTE.
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