61% rise in numberof GPs

There are very few GPs working from a converted garage or their home, a study reveals.

Overall, there has been a 61% increase in the number of GPs since 1982.

The survey, by researchers at Trinity College Dublin, found that 97% of doctors work in purpose-built or specially adapted premises, with rural doctors more likely to be in such centres than those in urban areas.

In 1982, being single-handed was the norm, at 62%. Nowadays, the single-handed doctor is far less common at 16%.

The study has followed Irish general practice over 33 years at five different time points.

Professor Tom O’Dowd, chair of general practice in Trinity and senior author of the report — Structure of General Practice in Ireland 1982-2015 — said the survey had achieved a high response rate of 72%.

Around 3,000 GPs practise in Ireland, with 11% only treating private patients.

The GP workforce has been ageing — the percentage of GPs aged over 65 increased from 3% to 13% over the last decade. There are significantly more women GPs in the 40-55 age group, and women now account for 42% of the GP workforce.

The study found that more than three-quarters (76%) of GPs work seven or more sessions per week.

Most GPs (64%) see 15 patients or more in each clinical sessions. Male GPs are more likely to see over 20 patients per clinical session (31%), compared to their female counterparts (14%).

GPs have embraced the arrival of out-of-hours co-operatives — 93% now work in co-operatives, up from 56% in 2005.

The study also shows that rural practice numbers have been stable since 2005 at 21% of the workforce. The significant fall in the numbers of rural doctors occurred between 1997 and 2005.

Diagnostics, especially radiology and more specifically ultrasound, remain the big bugbear of general practice, with GPs reporting that timely ultrasound access has declined from 59% in 2005 to 27% in 2015.