GP Shortage in Ireland: Can Technology Save Our Healthcare System?

The Numbers Tell a Scary Story

Ireland currently has around 4,500 GPs serving over 5 million people. That's 1,150 patients per GP—significantly above the sustainable threshold of 800-900 patients that experts recommend. But here's what really worries me: projections show we need nearly 1,200 additional GPs by 2040 to meet basic demand as our population grows by 23-30%.

The situation is deteriorating, not improving. Thirty percent of Irish GPs plan to retire by 2028, and up to 15% are considering emigration. Only one in five GP practices can take new public patients, and one in four can take private patients. Areas like Prosperous, Kildare Town, West Dublin, and parts of rural Ireland are becoming medical deserts.

Meanwhile, our population is ageing. We're facing a 59% growth in people over 65 by 2025—exactly the demographic most likely to need frequent GP visits.

This Isn't Just an Irish Problem

The UK has lost 957 full-time equivalent GPs since 2015, and 39% of current GPs are considering leaving within five years. Across Europe, we're facing similar challenges: ageing GP workforces, uneven geographic distribution, and difficulty attracting recruits to rural and underserved areas.

The workforce is exhausted. Burnout is epidemic. And frankly, without intervention, this crisis will only deepen. So, can technology actually help solve a workforce problem?

The Evidence for Digital Health Innovation

I used to be sceptical about whether technology could meaningfully address healthcare workforce shortages. But the evidence is mounting that digital innovation—when implemented thoughtfully—can genuinely transform care:

Ireland's Digital for Care Strategy

Ireland's "Digital for Care 2024-2030" strategy recognises this potential. The framework aims to shift from hospital-based to community-based services through digital transformation, aligned with the broader Sláintecare vision for healthcare reform.

This is the right direction. But recognising the opportunity and actually implementing it are two very different things.

Let's Be Honest About the Barriers

High-quality evidence shows that the most significant barriers to digital health adoption are real and substantial:

These aren't obstacles we can wish away. They require serious planning, investment, and change management.

Technology Isn't a Silver Bullet

Here's where I get direct: technology alone won't solve workforce planning failures. A GP I spoke with from Dorset, who now tutors GCSEs to make ends meet, said: "I sacrificed my life for the NHS and now I can't even find a job because GPs are being replaced by cheaper staff."

We can't use technology as an excuse to underfund primary care or replace human connection with algorithms. That's not innovation—that's abandonment.

The path forward requires balance and genuine commitment:

The Question Isn't Whether Technology Can Help

Because the answer to that question will determine whether we transform primary care into something genuinely accessible and humane—or whether we simply patch over a crisis while it continues to fester.