Dr. John Farrell:

I thank the Senator for the question. We are very aware that GPs have been under stress for a significant period of time. What are we doing to address this? More people are in group practices with peer support and peer review of work. This has been beneficial. We are conscious of the fact that 50% of our GP colleagues work in either one or two person practices. For many years, the college has had continuous education groups. These have been of huge help but they have been impacted by the pandemic. They comprise GPs who meet locally, often in a local building, to discuss clinical problems and get updated on what is new. They offer significant peer support for people under pressure in practice. They are able to discuss difficult cases and caseloads. They have been of huge value. They have been impacted by the pandemic but I hope, with the easing of restrictions, we will be able to get back to them. They have been in place for a significant number of years. They are greatly valued by our GP colleagues. They are one of the main ways for people to get support.

Dr. Rita Doyle has just stood down from her role as president of the Irish Medical Council. The IMC has been very aware of the pressures that doctors generally are under. There are support systems. The Irish College of General Practitioners has the doctors' health in practice programme run by Dr. Andree Rochfort. It is accessed by colleagues when they are under pressure or in psychological distress and in need of a helping hand. No more than anyone else in the community, doctors are human. They have a significant workload and come under their own pressures. The college addresses this through various strands.