Call for urgent action on the funding and development of undergraduate General Practice placements to help address the ongoing GP workforce crisis.

by Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) and Association of University Departments of General Practice in Ireland (AUDGPI)

The joint call for action seeks a more formal and structured collaboration between the ICGP Specialist Training Programme and the Medical Schools Departments of General Practice.

A new report, entitled “Medical Student to General Practitioner- an Urgent Call to Action” has been published today (Saturday March 4th) at the 2023 AUDGPI ICGP Joint Annual Scientific Meeting in the University of Galway.

The lead author of the report is Dr Maureen Kelly, Associate Professor, School of Medicine, University of Galway.

Read the Report

Against the background of a growing GP workforce crisis, this report highlights the low visibility of General Practice at undergraduate level in the country’s Medical Schools, makes recommendations to promote General Practice as a positive career choice, and proposes a clinical academic training pathway in General Practice.

Mr Fintan Foy, Chief Executive Officer of the ICGP, said: “The ICGP knows that not enough graduates of Irish medical schools select general practice as a career, which leaves our long-term workforce planning in a highly vulnerable position. This joint report with the AUDGPI sets out 14 recommendations to change that.”

Mr Fintan Foy (Chief Executive Officer of the ICGP) and Dr Maureen Kelly (lead author, University of Galway) Photo credit Martina Regan Photography

Mr Fintan Foy (Chief Executive Officer of the ICGP) and Dr Maureen Kelly (lead author, University of Galway) Photo credit Martina Regan Photography

Dr. Maureen Kelly, Lead Author & Associate Professor, School of Medicine, University of Galway, said:

“We need to develop and implement a national funding model that supports the hosting and delivery of undergraduate general practice placements for medical students in all medical schools. The report is a forward-thinking and ambitious approach to GP education. It emphasises the importance of viewing GP education as a continuum.“

Prof. Martin O’Donnell, Dean of the School of Medicine at the University of Galway, commenting on the report said: "The future success of healthcare systems is critically dependent on our ability to evolve. This report calls for bold and innovative action, inter-organisational collaboration and a multi-faceted approach. In line with the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences FutureCare Strategy we are committed to addressing the shortages of GPs, particularly across the West and North-West region, and to supporting many of the recommendations in this report.”

The Report was launched on the 2nd day of the AUDGPI ICGP Joint Annual Scientific Meeting in Galway.