GP shortages in rural Kerry to be raised with Stephen Donnelly

Group on Iveragh Peninsula in Kerry is to meet Health Minister on Wednesday to discuss the crisis

Caitlín Breathnach: 'The taskforce working group is meeting with the minister and we are thankful to him for granting the request we made. Picture: Domnick Walsh 

A group which has raised concerns around GP shortages on the Iveragh Peninsula in Kerry is to meet Health Minister Stephen Donnelly on Wednesday to discuss the crisis.

The towns of Waterville and Caherciveen once shared six GPs but now only have three, with one due to retire later this year.

The Tascfhorsa Uibh Rathaigh (Iveragh Taskforce) highlighted this crisis in the Irish Examiner recently, calling for innovative solutions to protect access to general practice in the remote area.

Taskforce member Caitlín Breathnach said: “The taskforce working group is meeting with the minister and we are thankful to him for granting the request we made. And thanks to [minister] Norma Foley for organising this.” 

Mr Donnelly’s office confirmed the meeting was scheduled.

The crisis is echoed across the country, with people scrambling to find GP appointments in rural and urban areas. 

Dr Eamonn Shanahan, Irish College of General Practitioners president and Farranfore GP, said a variety of solutions were needed.

“Up to eight years ago we were training about 150 trainees per year, and we had been on a pathway to increase this to 350 trainees a year by 2026,” he said.

“The minister asked if we could bring that schedule forward, and we plan to have an intake of 350 trainees this year.” 

However, he said: “The difficulty is even with these increases, we are probably still not producing enough to meet the numbers of doctors that are retiring not to mind increasing the numbers to cover increasing patient numbers.” 

Some areas are already benefitting from an international medical graduates programme, he said.

Formerly known as the Non-EU Rural GP programme, this fast-tracks doctors with experience in other specialities through two-year general practice training. 

He pointed to Lisdoonvarna as an example of creative use of these programmes to replace a retired GP.

“A package was put together whereby a GP moved to Lisdoonvarna, and the doctor was a GP trainer and brought their trainee with them,” he said.

The practice also accessed ICGP funding provided by the HSE for a doctor to take a fellowship in general practice involving study and work. They also have a doctor through the international programme. 

Dr Shanahan emphasised GP shortages are not unique to Ireland.