Carol Nolan Highlights Acute GP Shortage in Rural Offaly
Carol Nolan raised concerns about the shortage of rural GPs, citing 81 applications for GP access in Offaly in 2024 and contacts from residents in Dangan County Offaly. She urged the government to address the chronic shortage, noting local GPs are at full capacity; government acknowledged recruitment difficulties and referenced increases in medical training places.
Carol Nolan said there were 81 applications in 2024 from people seeking access to a GP in her constituency of Offaly and mentioned residents in Dangan County Offaly as an example of a wider problem. She described the shortage as particularly acute in her county.
She asked what actions will be taken to address the chronic shortage of GPs in rural areas. Government acknowledges the significant issue in terms of recruitment of GPs and indicated the point raised is appreciated.
Government noted that in the last 12 months decisions were taken to dramatically increase the numbers of doctors in training and people doing medicine in third-level colleges. Carol Nolan referred to a figure she had read suggesting for every GP retiring there may be two in training, a point she said she would stand to be corrected on and which the Chief Whip confirmed.
Carol Nolan acknowledged the "fantastic work" GPs do but warned they are at full capacity and that the shortage must be addressed. Her remarks focused on the need for a sustainable supply pipeline of high-quality GPs to serve rural areas.
Local impact in Offaly
Carol Nolan said there were 81 applications in 2024 from people seeking access to a GP in her constituency of Offaly and mentioned residents in Dangan County Offaly as an example of a wider problem. She described the shortage as particularly acute in her county.
Government acknowledgement
She asked what actions will be taken to address the chronic shortage of GPs in rural areas. Government acknowledges the significant issue in terms of recruitment of GPs and indicated the point raised is appreciated.
Training and recruitment measures
Government noted that in the last 12 months decisions were taken to dramatically increase the numbers of doctors in training and people doing medicine in third-level colleges. Carol Nolan referred to a figure she had read suggesting for every GP retiring there may be two in training, a point she said she would stand to be corrected on and which the Chief Whip confirmed.
Capacity of existing GPs
Carol Nolan acknowledged the "fantastic work" GPs do but warned they are at full capacity and that the shortage must be addressed. Her remarks focused on the need for a sustainable supply pipeline of high-quality GPs to serve rural areas.
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Transcript
I want to raise with you the issue of rural GPs and the shortage of GPs in many rural areas. In my own constituency of Offaly in 2024 there were 81 applications from people looking for access to a GP and I know I've been contacted by many residents in Dangan County Offaly and this is just an example of one town and it's a common problem across this state but particularly in my own county it's particularly acute. I do want to acknowledge the fantastic work that our GPs do but unfortunately they are at full capacity and there is a shortage that must be addressed so my question is what actions will be taken by government to address the chronic shortage of GPs in rural areas? Government acknowledges the significant issue in terms of recruitment of GPs and that is why I think in the last 12 months decisions were taken to dramatically increase the numbers of doctors in training and people doing medicine in our third-level colleges. I stand to be corrected but I think I read a figure whereby for every GP retiring where we have two in training but that is subject to correction. The Chief Whip tells me I'm correct so I am correct so and but I think that is that is the only way that we can effectively get high quality supply pipeline of GPs particularly to rural Ireland which is an issue and I appreciate you raising it.