New report claims that rural GP’s firefighting in attempting to treat growing numbers of patients

A new report has claimed that rurally based GP’s are facing an increasing workload and are having to treat more patients in recent years.

Ireland is one of just a few EU countries where the patient load for GPs has increased over the past decade.

A new report claims that GP has an average of 100 extra people in their catchment area, which has left doctors 'firefighting' to treat growing - and ageing - communities.

The new data has been published by the 'The Journal Investigates'.

Editor, Maria Delaney says rural areas are most impacted: