Dr. Pádraig McGarry:

Certainly, the essence of general practice is continuity of care. That is what is seen as the best outcome. In fact, the independent practitioner model has that continuity of care and that is probably the most favoured. We see it being fragmented perhaps where corporates are entering the scene. We may well have doctors coming in for a transient phase and we lose that continuity of care. In recent years, because of the way general practice has been allowed to come under threat there has been a vacuum. Corporates have come in and filled that vacuum. There is a serious danger with that type of model. Whereas it serves a purpose, it certainly will not go across the board. It certainly will not go into rural Ireland or into the smaller deprived areas. It will cherry-pick particular areas. Continuity of care will be lost under that type of model.

We need to support the independent practitioner model, including the doctor who works for 30 or 40 years. You understand that only too well, Chairman, because you have been in that role. I am unsure whether it should be passed from generation to generation, but people tend to follow in that regard. Children of gardaí become gardaí, children of publicans become publicans and children of farmers become farmers. Children of doctors tend to understand what is involved, especially in general practice. This is because, by and large, the practice is in the house so the family know what is involved. That was certainly the case in my house. Then, when someone from the next generation goes into it, he understands what is involved and has bought into it. It becomes part of the DNA. Things evolve, as Dr. Sadlier said, and nothing stands still but I believe we have to be careful not to throw the baby out with the bathwater.