Dr. Catherine Conlon:

From a systems perspective, Dr. Deirdre Duffy's research highlighted that GPs who are providing often have to go above and beyond their usual healthcare delivery practices in trying to fit in appointments. As we know, it can take a week or more to get a regular GP appointment. We are finding very committed providers who are making appointments for women maybe very early in the morning or at lunchtime.

There is an impact on the sustainability of that kind of practice. GPs are giving women their own numbers for follow-up.

We heard in the UnPAC study, from women’s point of view, of GPs going above and beyond and in Deirdre Duffy’s study of the impact that has on the capacity of those GPs. Dr. Duffy’s study referred to risk of burnout and unsustainability of the service. The intent of this model of care was normalisation within general practice but the effect of the roll-out in a small number of GPs is that it is not operating in a normal way and is having an adverse impact on providers and those accessing care.