GP shortages are most acute in rural and commuter belt areas, data shows
New data reveals that GP shortages in Ireland are most severe in rural areas and commuter belts. The Irish College of General Practitioners notes that workforce growth is failing to keep pace with the needs of an aging population.
Why it matters
The findings highlight critical gaps in primary healthcare access, particularly for vulnerable populations in deprived or remote regions.
GP shortages are most acute in commuter belts and rural areas, an analysis has found, as population growth and an ageing workforce continues to put pressure on community healthcare services.
The Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) acknowledged that while the GP workforce had expanded in recent years, it “cannot meet current patient healthcare needs”.
Data provided by the college shows Monaghan has the lowest GP coverage per capita, with a range of 50 to 52 family doctors per 100,000 population, followed by Roscommon (59 to 61 per 100,000), Kilkenny (64 to 66 per 100,000) and Meath (67 to 69 per 100,000).
Conversely, Sligo has the highest GP coverage per capita, with a range of 121 to 125 GPs per 100,000, followed by Westmeath at 115 to 120 per 100,000 and Galway at 105 to 109 GPs per 100,000.
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