206 GPs contracted by HSE for medical card holders

THERE are currently only 206 general practitioners contracted by the HSE to provide GP services to medical card holders across the HSE Mid-West area.

This figure was given by Maria Bridgeman, Chief Officer of HSE Mid West Community Healthcare, at the Regional Health Forum West, which took place in late September.

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The figure accounts for all GPs who provide services for medical card holders in Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary.

Ms Bridgeman was responding to concerns raised by a county Mayo councillor, Martin McLoughlin, about what measures are being adopted to address GP shortages in rural areas nationally and across the Mid-West and West and North-West health regions.

According to Ms Bridgeman, it is “well recognised that there is currently an undersupply of GPs in Ireland”, and that initiatives were in place to drive recruitment and retention of GPs in rural areas, and fill roles across the Mid-West.