A number of initiatives have been announced to improve rural GP services.
An increase in training places, a bigger focus on placing international doctors in rural areas and a strategic task force are all set to tackle the issue of doctors leaving the profession.
350 GP training places will be offered in the next few weeks which represents a 22 per cent rise on this year’s figures.
The Department of Health has established a task force to address the expansion of the Irish population and plan doctor services around it.
There have been longstanding challenges facing patients in securing timely access to their GP.
North West GP Dr Ciaran O’Fearraigh is hopeful that these measures will start to address the issue. However he has warned that the moves will not impact the overcrowding issues that are being experienced at Letterkenny University Hospital.
