Doctor numbers hit record high as 130 GPs now working in Waterford

A total of 130 doctors are currently working as GPs in Co Waterford, according to newly published Medical Council research showing doctor numbers continuing to grow across Ireland. 

The Medical Workforce Intelligence Report 2025 found that 5,017 GPs are now practising nationwide, an increase of 5.3% from the previous year. 

Waterford's 130 GPs represent 2.6% of all family doctors currently working in Ireland. 

The report also found that Ireland's overall medical workforce has reached a record high, with 22,257 clinically active doctors registered and practising across the country. 

Women now account for almost half of all practising doctors, making up 47.6% of the workforce. 

While the figures point to continued growth in doctor numbers, the report highlights a number of challenges facing the profession.

Doctors surveyed identified workload pressures, bureaucracy and administration, and overcrowding within the health services as the most significant barriers affecting their day-to-day work. 

GPs reported the highest levels of difficulty in providing safe patient care, with more than one-third saying they encounter obstacles on at least a weekly basis. 

Younger GPs were found to be particularly affected by these pressures. 

The report also raises concerns about the future sustainability of general practice, noting that around one-fifth of the country's GP workforce is approaching retirement age. 

Another key finding is the growing importance of internationally trained doctors within the Irish health system. 

Almost three in every ten practising doctors in Ireland received their primary medical qualification outside Ireland, the European Union and the United Kingdom. 

The Medical Council said the report paints a picture of a growing and increasingly diverse medical workforce but also underlines the need to address the pressures facing doctors to ensure patients continue to receive safe and timely care.