Dr. John Hillery:

We would say that psychiatry is the same as cardiology and respiratory medicine. One goes to see a specialist when one has specialist needs. At a primary care level, one goes to see one's general practitioner who should have access to other inputs at a primary care level that are appropriate to one's needs. That especially includes talking therapies. The general practitioner, GP, can prescribe medications if he or she thinks it is appropriate. There is a national counselling service which is supported by the State but I hear from my GP colleagues, and the committee has probably heard from the Irish College of General Practitioners, ICGP, that this was very good when done at a pilot level in the north east but has not become as accessible when rolled out across the country. That is an issue. I am not sure if that answers the question. Primary care should be the same for people who have diabetes and respiratory problems. If one is at a certain level, one gets inputs from primary care but it needs access to the different inputs it would like to give people.