Press Release: Monday 30 June 2025
Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD welcomes the publication of the ‘General Practice in Ireland: An Analysis of Supply & Demand’
The Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD has today published ‘General Practice in Ireland: An Analysis of Supply & Demand’ to improve the evidence base for the Strategic Review of General Practice. The Paper was produced by the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGEES) at the Department of Health.
The paper presents key findings in relation to six policy questions:
- How many general practices and general practice staff are there?
- What does retirement and succession planning in general practice look like?
- What is the productivity of general practice?
- What are the characteristics and drivers of public contract uptake?
- Are there capacity constraints within the system, and if so, what are the determinants?
- What are the factors that should be considered in forecasting future GP workforce requirements?
The research finds that in 2022 the workforce of GPs and General Practice Nurses and Midwives (GPNM) provided a reasonable level of coverage nationally in response to demand and there was good uptake of public contracts. GPs carried out 19 million consultations annually, 29 per whole-time-equivalent per day. GP Nurses and Midwives carried out nine million consultations annually – 16 per whole-time-equivalent per day. However, some geographic areas had clear capacity constraints, often in areas of growing or ageing populations.
Identified capacity challenges can be addressed by 2030 through the increase in GP numbers that is already underway via increased training places and the International Medical Graduates Programme. By 2030, almost 4,000 graduates and international recruits are expected to enter the system while just over 1,000 GPS are expected to retire and resign. The number of GPs expected to retire is also in line with normal workforce distributions. This increase in capacity will meet constraints in the system currently and future constraints arising from demographics and changes in working practices.
The paper’s recommendations include expanding and streamlining the role for GPNMs, and the adoption of practice-based public contracts to improve public administration. GPNM already provide almost a third of general practice consultations and appear to be an important source of supply and stability in areas with growing and ageing populations. However, an expansion and standardisation of the GPNM’s role could be beneficial. The Strategic Review will identify measures to improve the current system as part of a primary care-focused health service and in line with the Sláintecare vision on access.
Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill T.D. welcomed the publication saying,
“The government is working to improve healthcare so that everyone can get the care they need, when and where they need it. General practice is a key part of this plan. I am happy to support the release of the report “General Practice in Ireland: An Analysis of Supply & Demand”, which will help guide our review of general practice.
We know there are challenges, and this report points out the problems and offers ideas on how to fix them, so that GP services stay accessible.
In places where there aren’t enough GPs, we’ll work to make sure the growing number of healthcare workers are placed where they’re most needed. In areas facing capacity constraints, we will work to better match the available and growing workforce to local demographic requirements.
The full review will be finished in the coming months, and I plan to publish it after that. This is an important step in making sure general practice in Ireland is future proofed.”