Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am unsure whether my question goes against the general principle of general practice. Let us extrapolate manpower assessments, requirements and needs in conjunction with demographic trends for the coming years and the associated health needs. Reference has been made to obesity, but the key issue is the ageing population as well as chronic illness and disease. Let us suppose we have an extra 1,000 general practitioners. Is there not a role for some specialists within general practice? I have in mind GPs specialising in certain areas within practices to deliver front-line care in the GP setting. For example, my GP is a former surgeon. He loves ingrown toenails and so on. Other GPs will not perform those procedures to the same extent. Is there a possibility for specialty work within practices, whether respiratory, chronic or whatever?