Report: Not enough GPs for planned hospital expansions

The Health Minister Mary Harney has been warned that a shortage of qualified GPs could undermine plans to expand hospital services into the community.

A new report from the Oireachtas Health Committee recommends that many of the services currently offered in hospitals should be moved to community-based, primary care facilities.

However, it said not enough doctors are being trained to meet the current demand.

It recommended that GP training places shold be increased from 120 to 150 per year.

It also said mental health services should be based in the newly created primary care facilities.