An analysis of applications and acceptances to the National Specialist Training Programme in General Practice Ireland from 2021-2024

Abstract

Aim
Ireland has one of the lowest levels of General Practitioners (GP) per population in the EU (87/100,000). To address this deficit the number of National Specialist Training Programme in General Practice (NSTPGP) places has expanded to 350 annually. This study aims to establish trends in applications to the NSTPGP including (1) the demographic profile of applicants and the location of their primary medical qualification (PMQ) and (2) application rates among different Irish Medical Schools’ graduates.

Methods
This quantitative cross-sectional study analysed anonymised data over 4 years using descriptive analyses, chi square testing, Student t tests and Pearson’s correlation tests.

Results
Of 3672 total applicants, 1796 (49%) were female. Significantly more male applicants earned their PMQ from non-EU medical schools (N=1027, 54%, p=<0.001). Over the four-year study period the location of applicants’ PMQ was: 1255 (34%) Republic of Ireland (ROI), 500 (14%) EU (EU/EEA/UK excluding ROI), and 1917 (52%) non-EU. The proportion of applicants who were offered and accepted a place on the NSTPGP differed significantly: 732 (58%) of ROI medical school applicants, compared to 119 (24%) of applicants from EU/EEA/UK-excluding ROI medical schools and 275 (14%) of applicants from non-EU medical schools (χ² (702.88, N=3672) =2, p<0.001). In 2024, 348 (27%) of applicants obtained their PMQ in a ROI medical school. Among the six ROI medical schools’ graduate application rates as a percentage of their total class size, significantly differed with a range of 18%-36% (p<0.001). For acceptances of an offer as a percentage of class size, the equivalent range was 10-21%. A total of 732 (15%) of all ROI medical school graduates accepted a position on the NSTPGP over the four-year study period.

Discussion
Despite an increase in the number of training places on the NSTPGP recently, there was no corresponding increase in the proportion of applicants from ROI medical schools. By contrast, the number of applicants who graduated from other EU/EEA/ UK or non-EU medical schools has grown substantially representing 73% in 2024. There were also significant differences observed in application rates between the six ROI medical schools, but no significant differences between offer and acceptance rates. This study demonstrates substantive changes in application trends to the NSTPGP over the study period. Further research should explore the underlying factors that motivate applications to Irish GP training and how best to continue to enhance recruitment to the programme.