Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Fair play. I thank Dr. Sadlier for his contribution. We are very concerned, as a committee, about two critical areas, and only one has been reflected in the presentation this morning. That is the impact on GP practices and primary care of the financial emergency measures in the public interest legislation. There has been a significant reduction in the money directed to GP services and the IMO has referred to a reduction in overheads and staffing costs. It has also mentioned the impact on phlebotomy services, warfarin and blood pressure monitoring. I know from engagement with GP services that there is also an impact on ancillary services that have been brought together in a collective centre of doctors. The witnesses mentioned specialist nursing provision and there are other elements. The consequence of the impact is displacing people from primary care into accident and emergency hospital scenarios, which already cannot cope with the load. I ask the IMO to take the opportunity to elaborate on the impact as it is a concern.

What is the position of the junior hospital doctors and the ongoing engagement over the threatened industrial action? How will that manifest itself and will the witnesses give an update on that issue? There is a shared concern in that regard.