GP trainees choosing to stay and work in Ireland, survey shows 

Cork GP Diarmuid Quinlan said more than 100 international medical graduates who qualified as GPs in their home countries have been recruited for small rural practices. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Almost all the GP trainees who graduated between 2017 and 2022 are now working in Ireland, a survey by the Irish College of General Practitioners has found.

The survey also shows, in contrast to similar studies of young hospital doctors, just 3% of those training to be a GP intend to emigrate.

The career intentions of doctors who graduated between 2017 and 2022 were surveyed last year by the ICGP, and published on Monday.

“Just 3% said they definitely planned to move abroad, and 7% were undecided. Virtually none of those surveyed had emigrated — 96% were working in general practice here,” the ICGP said.

Questions on career intentions identified “over two thirds [78.4%] of recent graduates saw their future career in Ireland” they added.

The ICGP also pointed to an expansion of GP training places in reaction to a severe shortage of GPs, particularly in rural and deprived areas of cities.

ICGP director of GP training Dr Cathy Cullen said: “This survey shows us the growing demand for GPs, the improved financial environment for general practice and the variety of career options has made general practice a very attractive career for graduates.

“This is also illustrated in the high numbers who have applied for GP training places last October — over 1,300 applications were received.” 

There are currently 1,044 trainees in supervised practice and the ICGP has 4,200 members.

Dr Diarmuid Quinlan, medical director of IGCP and a GP in Glanmire, said the findings were good news for patients.

“The ICGP is working closely with the minister, Department of Health, and the HSE, to address the acute shortage of GPs, with a 22% increase in training places in 2024 alone,” he said.

He also said more than 100 international medical graduates who qualified as GPs in their home countries have been recruited for small rural practices.

They are undertaking a two-year supervised training programme.

“And we plan to expand those numbers this year,” he added.

The Irish Examiner has highlighted the dire shortage of GPs across a range of settings.

People living on the Iveragh Peninsula in Kerry have seen their GP numbers drop from six to three, with one of those set to retire this year.

The crisis is now also affecting urban areas, with one family in Glanmire, Co Cork, saying they were unable to find a space for one of their daughters having recently moved to the area.