Deputy Johnny Guirke released the response he received from the Minister for Health and the HSE regarding the number of General Practitioners (GPs) registered in County Meath under the General Medical Services ( GMS ) contract. In his statement, Deputy Guirke notes that the lack of GPs in Meath is a matter of deep concern, particularly in light of reports of residents facing wait times of up to a month for a GP appointment.
He said “One constituent contacted me who had applied for an adaptation grant for their father who has cancer. They needed a doctor’s letter to upgrade their medical file for the application and they were told there was no appointments for a month. Deputy Guirke asked the Minister for Health the number of GPs registered in County Meath. The Health Service Executive’s reply to this parliamentary question provided the information that the General Medical Services GPs practicing in County Meath as of 30/10/2025 was 82.
“The total number of GMS patients assigned to GMS GPs in Meath is 81,020. “This is 988 GMS patients to 1 GMS GP ” stated Deputy Guirke He emphasised that these figures point to a potential mismatch between GP capacity and patient demand in the county. He also highlighted ongoing concerns about appointment accessibility and the impact on timely primary care, urging health authorities and the Minister for Health to address GP distribution and capacity to improve patient outcomes and fairness of access across the county.
“I asked a straightforward question about how many GPs are registered and actively practicing under the GMS scheme in County Meath,” said Deputy Guirke. “The information we have underscores a pressing need to ensure residents can access timely, high-quality primary care. I will continue to press for transparency and practical solutions to bolster GP numbers and improve appointment availability.”
