Dr. Karena Hanley:

Ireland will continue to see an exodus of GPs unless clear actions are taken now to attract them to stay. We must examine how that will affect communities, the elderly and patients in general. We recommend the delivery of a GP contract in 2017. We also seek supports for emerging graduates from GP training and flexible working options in general practice. General practice is successful. In terms of value for money, general practice has been one of the most successful public private partnerships in the health system but actions must be taken to address the infrastructure of general practice.

These actions must recognise that GPs carry all the obligations and liabilities of providing the complete service. We are giving away our GPs. They are not returning in any significant numbers. In the words of one recent graduate, now in Canada: "It would have taken so little to help me stay, it will take so much more for life to bring me back."