GP role in Kerry advertised four times since last summer with temporary doctor filling role

A spokeswoman for HSE Cork/ Kerry said arrangements are in place to ensure medical card patients, grouped in a GMS list, have access to a doctor in south Kerry.

A GP role in Cahersiveen, Co Kerry, has been advertised four times since last summer as the HSE struggles to fill this role permanently despite significant changes recently in how GPs are supported.

The role is currently filled by a locum temporary doctor since the retirement of a permanent GP last year.

It is also understood the remaining permanent doctor in the town is nearing retirement.

A spokeswoman for HSE Cork/ Kerry said arrangements are in place to ensure medical card patients, grouped in a GMS list, have access to a doctor in south Kerry.

“We are constantly reviewing our efforts to ensure that we are availing of any opportunity to highlight the vacant panel, and the delivery of a safe, quality, and accessible GP service under the GMS contract remains a key priority,” she said.

Previous vacancies were “dealt with quickly and appropriately, usually by advertising the contract and filling the position”, she said.

The HSE said nationally the number of times a post is re-advertised depends on factors including location, panel size, patient profile, and GP numbers locally.

They are aware of the growing problems and support “a multi-annual investment programme” with training partners the Irish College of General Practitioners to increase the number of new GPs coming through.

Training places have increased from 259 in 2022 to 285 in 2023, with a planned intake of 350 for this year.

A new non-EU, GP training programme, also with the college, saw 112 doctors recruited last year with 75 already placed around the country. It is expected to roll out again this year.

It is believed most of these doctors were already in Ireland working in various roles, with about 20% travelling from abroad.

The HSE also said a 2023 GP agreement includes a new practice grant. This contributes to the cost of employing additional staff and/or increasing hours for existing staff as well as a new role titled “GP practice assistant’.

Responding to the concerns, the Department of Health said GPs are private practitioners.

They acknowledged GPs hold contracts with the HSE for medical card and GP visit cardholders.

GPs receive payment through capitation and also fee-per-item payments for certain services, a spokesman said. Supports for rural practices and those in disadvantaged urban areas have been provided.

What's your view on this issue?

You can tell us here

Responding to concerns by the Rural, Island and Dispensing Doctors group around the removal of a distance coding system, the department indicated other funding has replaced this.

“Capitation rates still vary according to patient age and gender,” he said. “GMS capitation rates were increased in total by 48.5% from 2019 to 2022.”

The 2023 GP agreement with the Irish Medical Organisation on behalf of general practitioners “increased the rural GP practice supports by 10% and the specific fees in place for dispensing doctors by 28%”, he said.

Rural GPs also benefit from agreement around increased capitation rates for children following extension of free GP care to under eights, he said.