Study calls for system-wide reform to tackle GP workforce crisis

A new study from researchers at University of Limerick has found that systemic reforms, expanded multidisciplinary teams and practice-level changes are required to address the workforce crisis in general practice.

The paper, ‘Addressing systemic workforce challenges in general practice – a qualitative study of general practitioners in Ireland’ sought the perspectives of Irish GPs on how to address recruitment and retention challenges. It has been published in Family Practice.

The authors noted that Ireland and Europe are facing a GP workforce crisis, with a shortfall of 1,660 GPs projected in Ireland by 2028.

The researchers undertook a qualitative analysis through online interviews with 21 GPs between January 2023 and August 2023.

The results from the study were grouped into three themes: The need for a whole system approach to addressing problems; the need for role reallocation and multidisciplinary teams to allow GPs to focus on complex cases; and the importance of IT improvements and administrative task reallocation to reduce GP workload and improve patient care.

The authors concluded: “GPs will be attracted to work and remain in Ireland when the wider health system is significantly improved. The process of improving the health system must include general practitioners at national, regional, and local levels.”

The study underlined that systemic reforms “are essential for sustainable recruitment and retention in general practice”. The authors argued that GP involvement in healthcare planning “optimises general practice performance by highlighting system failings and proposing solutions”.

They also stressed that rural general practice has different needs and challenges to those in urban practices and that targeted rural healthcare funding and support could help reduce pressure on general practice and improve access to care.

The importance of digitisation was another area of focus in the study, as digital infrastructure was “consistently identified as central to the future of general practice”.

“Practice-level digital adaptations, including IT optimisation and administrative role reallocation, are essential for managing patient volumes and enhancing continuity of care.”