HSE figures show Wexford’s GP numbers rose from 79 in June 2021 to 82 by June 2026
Plans for a long-awaited Primary Care Centre for Gorey, Co. Wexford are finally set to come to fruition as contracts are set to be signed in September.
This comes after a preferred site for the centre has been identified by the HSE after years of delays. The HSE are expected to host a contract signing with the suitable tenderer this month.
Although an exact location for the Primary Care Centre is yet to be announced, it is expected the location will be revealed following the contract signing. It is speculated that the primary care centre will be located on the outskirts of Gorey town.
In earlier stages of the plans, a provider had been selected but faced challenges with the feasibility of the project. Ultimately, the process collapsed leading to further delays.
In order to re-advertise the project, a review of current and future service needs in Gorey was carried out in consultation with relevant stakeholders.
Wicklow-Wexford TD Malcolm Byrne has welcomed the news that a contract with the identified tender will be signed, which he said will build confidence in the area for the long-awaited project.
“It’s finally a case of once they have signed off on the tender, then it’s just getting ready to go into construction. This has been long-running and access to GPs and medical facilities is probably one of the top issues in north Wexford.
“I’ve been campaigning on this issue for over a decade, so once we finally get to see the builders in starting to build it, it will fill us with a bit more confidence – it’s just one of those long-running sagas,” Deputy Byrne added.
He further said this will support the demand for GP services, which he said has been one of the biggest challenges in the Gorey area, as current GPs do not have the capacity to take on any more patients.
“I was getting more queries in from people who’ve moved into the area, who love Gorey, think it’s great, but they’re still frustrated that they have to travel back to wherever they’ve come from to be able to access their GP,” he said.
Following a parliamentary request, Deputy Byrne asked the HSE the total number of GP doctors operating in Wexford at present, which revealed that the county has seen an increase of just three GPs over the last five years.
In June 2021, 79 GP doctors were providing healthcare services in the region. By June 2026, the number of GP doctors operating had risen to 82.
“There has been progress and with the extra places on medical courses, so we should see more GPs in the near future, but we are also living longer, and we need to support positive health promotion measures to help keep people out of surgeries and out of hospitals,” Deputy Byrne added.
The HSE said they are working with the Irish College of General Practitioners to expand the General Practitioner workforce, where intake has more than doubled from 120 over a decade ago, rising to 400 trainees in 2026.