Dr. Tony Cox:

In response to Deputy Gino Kenny's question about substance misuse and alcohol and drugs, as a GP dealing with a patient who has that dual diagnosis the question is whether it is a mental health or substance abuse problem or a combination of the two.

Certainly, the access to services is challenging for GPs, mental health services certainly; if they feel there is a hint of a substance misuse problem they are not really as interested or as engaged as one would want them to be. Accessing addiction services is then very challenging and difficult. The Traveller community and the community in general are resistant to accessing addiction services. As a GP on the ground, I would appeal for more access to addiction services. I really feel that is a challenge and there is a gap there.