Meath has lowest number of doctors in Ireland amid growing GP crisis, says Aontú leader
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín has said Meath has the lowest number of doctors per capita in the country, as patients face long delays for appointments or are forced to travel outside the county for basic care.
The Meath West TD was responding to a recent report highlighting the nationwide shortage of general practitioners (GPs) and said the government is failing to ensure doctor numbers keep pace with population growth.
Mr Tóibín said: “Meath has the lowest number of doctors per capita in the country. As chair of the Save Navan Hospital Campaign I am acutely aware that many of the people using the Emergency Department every day are there because they can't get a doctor.”
“I have had pregnant mothers contact me because they can’t get a GP. It can take up to 10 days to get a doctor’s appointment even if you have a GP. One man I know contacted 12 GP surgeries in one day and could not get an appointment.”
He added that many long-time Meath residents still rely on their original GPs in Dublin because they have been unable to register with a local practice.
Mr Tóibín also criticised the government’s approach to medical education and the increasing trend of doctor emigration. He cited figures showing that in 2022, 442 Irish doctors were granted temporary work visas for Australia—more than half the number who graduated the previous year.
“We are not training enough GPs for the population increase and many GPs are emigrating because pay, terms and conditions are better abroad,” he said.
“A survey released in the Irish Journal of Medical Science in 2023 outlined that in 2021, of the 2016 cohort of doctors awarded Certificates of Satisfactory Completion of Specialist Training (CSCST), 68pc are employed in Ireland and 32pc are abroad or unknown – a third are not working in the Irish health service.”
Mr Tóibín also raised concerns about the rising proportion of non-EU students in Irish medical schools. He referenced data obtained through a Dáil question which revealed that over half of undergraduate medical students now come from outside the EU—many of whom are expected to return to their home countries after qualifying.
He added: “The Universities are dependent on these students for income denied to them by the government. The problem with this is that many of those students will want to practice in their home countries. They will be lost to Ireland. Talk about extra places in Universities is meaningless unless these places lead to extra doctors for Ireland.”
Recently, Aontú launched “Operation Shamrock,” a campaign aimed at attracting Irish-trained medical professionals back to the country. Mr Tóibín said its success will depend on improving working conditions within the HSE and ensuring sustainable patient-to-doctor ratios.
“We need to prioritise places in Irish Medical Schools for students who will work in the Irish health service.”