Low GP training numbers ‘extremely concerning’

UNLESS there is major investment in general practice, an experienced local doctor believes that the current crisis confronting our health centres will continue to ‘deepen and deteriorate’.

Local GP, Dr Josephine Deehan, has voiced her ‘strong concerns’ regarding the future of general practice locally, as well as across the rest of the region.

After it was announced earlier this week that almost 20 per-cent of the North’s GP training places will be empty this coming academic year, Dr Deehan told the UH that the message this should send out is clear: “We need investment if we stand any chance of attracting young doctors to a career in general practice.”

Last year, the Health Minister, Robin Swann, opened up dozens of new GP training places in the North, with the desired outcome of creating more newly-qualified GPs to staff our health centres.

However, this week, it was announced that only 99 or those 121 places have been filled.

A lack of available GPs has in recent years seen some health centres close, with many more facing the same fate unless substantive funding is secured.

Even the patients of more stable practices are feeling the general practice pinch, with longer waiting lists and a reduced variety of available treatments being just two of the most concerning consequences of staffing and resource shortages.

Commenting on the shortfall of applicants for this year’s GP training programme, a spokesperson for the Department of Health said, “It is regrettable that not all the funded GP training places have been filled yet for the 2023-2024 year.”

However, Dr Deehan put some of the blame back on the Department of Health, pointing to chronic underfunding as the primary cause of the low number of young doctors choosing to specialise in general practice.

“This is really disappointing and extremely concerning for primary care,” she began.

“It indicates that young doctors are not attracted to a life in general practice.”

Investment

Dr Deehan, observing that the low uptake of these new GP places demonstrates a lack of appetite among newly qualified physicians for a career in primary care, said the message we should extract from this crisis is clear.

“There has to be more investment in primary care, or else these problems will continue to deepen and deteriorate.

“Our services must be built up and proper resources need to be provided,” she said.

“Young doctors want to go into an area that will be rewarding and fulfilling,” reasoned the experienced GP.

“They want to work within a field that is properly funded, well-resourced, and has the capacity to recruit staff when necessary.”

Outlining some of the problems associated with the funding deficit, Dr Deehan said, “Though we are lucky in Omagh to have a fabulous primary care centre, many other health centres across Tyrone and Fermanagh are very run down and under-resourced.”

Dr Deehan then said that many specialist clinics that once would have been carried out by local GPs are now becoming the responsibility of hospitals.

“For example, just a few weeks ago, we found out that funding has been axed for GP delivered vasectomies.

“This was a valuable service with great patient satisfaction, but funding has been pulled nevertheless, which will put additional stress on our hospitals.”

Concluding, Dr Deehan reiterated her belief that immediate investment in required to save our primary care services. “There is no time to waste. We need investment and we need it soon.”