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'Every GP in the country is burnt out': Pandemic demands putting extra pressure on doctors

Some GPs are considering early retirement due to the extreme pressure over the last two years.

GPS HAVE CALLED for urgent action to address the shortage of doctors in general practice as they deal with an ‘overwhelming’ workload.

Doctors have said they are forced to turn away new patients because they are already struggling to maintain their services alongside the additional pandemic demands such as administering Covid booster shots to the over 70s.

Speaking to The Journal, Monaghan GP Illona Duffy said that she knows of some GPs who are now considering early retirement due to the extreme pressure they have been under throughout the pandemic. 

“We’re seeing it in terms of shortages here in our own practice – two partners retired this year and we haven’t replaced them fully,” she said.

She said her practice is unable to take on new patients as doctors are already working long hours to provide services to their current patient load. 

Dr Duffy said GPs have been under increasing pressure since the summer and this has escalated in recent weeks.

“We weren’t directly impacted by the HSE cyber attack but now we’re getting hundreds of letters, some dating back as far as April. They couldn’t print them off at the time so we’re getting them all now. That means extra work and calls to patients,” she said.

To help streamline the workload she said her surgery has been asking patients who want to book appointments to call at 8.30am on the day. However this has led to frustration among patients, she said, because there is such a demand for GP services that slots are booked up quickly.

“Patients are feeling like they’ve had enough of the lockdown restrictions, not being able to go places or see their GP when they want to, they want that checkup they haven’t had in two years and that’s a valid expectation but we have an ever in decline GP workforce,” she said.

“So people are getting fractious and the front of house staff are getting that from people.

On top of everything we’re trying to do the boosters for the over 70s, but we can’t do what we did earlier which was to do all day Saturday or close the surgery down for half a day. We need to maintain a normal service now so we’re trying to do it at the end of the surgery and that means a longer day for us.

Duffy said “every GP in the country is burnt out” and some colleagues did not get a chance to take a break at all this year.

Dublin GP and assistant professor in primary care at Trinity College in Dublin, Darach Ó Ciardha, said the increasing Covid-19 cases are putting pressure on GPs.

“Things are a little bit trickier this year in terms of patients with respiratory symptoms because there are a lot of non-Covid infections circulating as well. It can sometimes be a difficult conversation with patients in terms of trying to encourage them to get a Covid test, we’re meeting a bit more resistance than before,” he said.

Dr  Ó Ciardha said the demand on the Covid testing system, particularly in Dublin, also impacts on GPs as patients who struggle to find appointments on the online self-referral system contact their doctors for a referral.

“It’s excellent that patients have been able to self-refer for testing and it’s a very important part of the response but we’re seeing pressure on the system and that has a spill over effect into general practice,” he said.

 Ó Ciardha said there is a “serious issue” in terms of overall GP numbers as many have to turn away new patients.

“We’ve got a growing population and we’re not producing the amount of GPs we need. That impacts on the services we’re able to provide, it impacts on the number of practices in general and it has an impact on locum cover for annual leave and sick leave for GPs too.

Securing locum cover has become very difficult now, the fact is that many GPs that would have provided a locum service have moved into more medium to longterm positions in practices. 

He said if the government wants to encourage graduates to set up new practices, additional support will be needed.

“Financially it’s a huge risk at the beginning for a younger GP to take,” he explained.

“There needs to be a re-imagining of supports for new practices to give them some security even just for the first couple of years while they are getting off the ground and building a list.”

The Irish College of General Practitioners has called for the establishment of a working group to address the need to significantly expand the workforce.

It said last month that the country needs more than 2,000 GPs over the next decade to meet population growth and the expected 700 retirements of older GPs during that time.

Last night the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) said the government’s winter plan would “force more work out of our exhausted doctors”.

The €77-million plan aims to increase bed capacity, with 205 new acute beds, 275 community beds and 100 additional private community beds to be provided. It aims to increase palliative care capacity from 221 beds to 276 beds.

Around 4,000 GP diagnostics per week is being provided for under the plan, as well as the provision of out of hours GP services.

Dr Ina Kelly, President of the IMO said GP services are facing “unprecedented demand” from patients.

“The capacity is simply not there to meet demand and it is not all Covid-related,” she said.

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52 Comments
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    Mute william looby
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:31 PM

    Please stop searching twitter posts and pretending that it is news. Be a journalist, not a hack.

    187
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    Mute Batdroid
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    Dec 21st 2015, 3:02 PM

    Twitter the one big fartbox echo chamber

    70
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    Mute Gary
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    Dec 21st 2015, 4:43 PM

    “Fartbox echo chamber” lol. Very good. You definitely nailed it.

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    Mute Crom Cruach
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    Dec 21st 2015, 8:18 PM

    You do realise that you’re logged in via Twitter, yes?

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    Mute Batdroid
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    Dec 22nd 2015, 12:08 AM

    Yes I know. I only use it for here. I don’t enter the dreaded fartbox

    3
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    Mute family guy
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    Dec 21st 2015, 1:32 PM

    What does it matter what skin colour she has. As long as she can act.

    157
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    Mute Grigori Rasputin
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    Dec 21st 2015, 1:35 PM

    Or can actually do magic.

    127
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    Mute Fozz
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    Dec 21st 2015, 1:37 PM

    and cast spells…

    52
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    Mute TheBull
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    Dec 21st 2015, 1:40 PM

    The vast majority of the people complaing went even see it. They just like complaing.

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    Mute Rob Cahill
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    Dec 21st 2015, 1:42 PM

    colour doesn’t matter…but they could of went with 3 younger actors no??!

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    Mute luke frankus
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    Dec 21st 2015, 1:57 PM

    @Rob. No, actually!. It’s supposed to be about their life when their older. Harry has a wife and school aged children!. But only the people who actually read the article would know that…

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    Mute Joe MacCarthaigh
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:07 PM

    The character of Hermoine is white, always has been always will. This is just pandering to the pc crowd.

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    Mute Joe MacCarthaigh
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:08 PM

    If it’s about their life when their older how will they explain Hermoine changing skin tone? Rachel Dolezal stuff.

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    Mute luke frankus
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:10 PM

    You obviously didn’t read the article either, Joe.

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    Mute Joe Phillips
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:13 PM

    Joe, you should have a word with JK. She thinks that whoever invented the character never actually specified skin tone but she obviously hasn’t seen your notes, which I presume she must have received before inventing the character.

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    Mute Joe MacCarthaigh
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:20 PM

    I’ve seen all the films, Hermoine is white as snow.

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    Mute Debi Nikita
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:28 PM

    She’s magic, Joe. She can change into anything she wants. That’s the beauty of being magical.

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    Mute family guy
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:30 PM

    It’s only a book and film will people chill out. There are alot more serious things going on.

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    Mute Imperator Isachukwu
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:31 PM

    Exactly the view most folk would have family guy. Unfortunately Social Justice types are jumping on the race bandwagon with glee.

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    Mute Nicholas J Campbell
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    Dec 21st 2015, 4:04 PM

    She’s not a real person. She could be played by any race or any person. Didn’t see you giving it socks when daredevils kingpin was black in the movie in the mid 00′s or the fact that nick fury is now Samuel L. Get over it. Fictional characters people. They are created to be reinvented forever. It’s a pat on the back of a novelist to see diverse versions of their characters come to life. Narrow minded moaning weirdos who have a problem with that. It’s not even a PC patrol thing, it’s a freedom of creation and appropriation thing.

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    Mute Meehawwl O'Buachailla
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    Dec 21st 2015, 4:06 PM

    Okay joe, it’s a spolier alert but here ya’ go. Harry in adulthood has cast a spell on Hermione changing her skin colour to black. There, is that easier for you?

    12
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    Mute Amanda Horan
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    Dec 21st 2015, 6:11 PM

    Yes Joe and the play is based on the books, not the film.

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    Mute willr
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    Dec 21st 2015, 3:31 PM

    The guy playing Ron Weasley got Brown hair… Where are the Ginger defenders?

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    Mute Tricia Golden
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    Dec 21st 2015, 4:16 PM

    Guy playing Ron (Paul Thornley) looks like he has more grey hair to me (and I am a ginger….. a ginger who is going fecking grey!)

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    Mute Drew TheChinaman :)
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    Dec 21st 2015, 1:46 PM

    I think it’s good casting…

    But is someone not allowed be of the other opinion without needing ‘putting in their place’ by politically correct social justice touting hipsters on Twitter?

    God I really hate Twitter, and the publishing of tweets on articles/media. It just breeds more of these people who think their tweets and opinions really influence anyone….

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    Mute Imperator Isachukwu
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:28 PM

    Amen. The Social Justice crowd take the most innocuous things and ruin them. Far more people complaining about the complainers than are complaining abput the casting. Most people dont care if the actress is black or white. SJW’s are the ones reducing it to a race issue.

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    Mute Tricia Golden
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    Dec 21st 2015, 4:22 PM

    Imperator Isachukwu – I’m impressed by your trolling BTW. Very subtly done.

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    Mute Leo Massey
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    Dec 21st 2015, 1:41 PM

    Ah JK trying to get back some PR ‘right on’ points after backing the murderous apartheid Israeli regime.

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    Mute Lurfic
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:08 PM

    I’m pretty sure that as a highly accomplished billionaire she has f all need for your approval of her political views.

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    Mute Kal Ipers
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:08 PM

    No need for publicity the tickets have the biggest presale of tickets in the history of the west end. I think it has 2 years pre sold already

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    Mute Leo Massey
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    Dec 21st 2015, 3:17 PM

    Nor I yours chimp

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    Mute Leo Massey
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    Dec 21st 2015, 3:20 PM

    Highly accomplished billionaires should be entitled to do anything they want. They’re above us all, and reproach, due to their billions.
    She might spit on you if you ask her nicely.

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    Mute Imperator Isachukwu
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:30 PM

    Doesn’t say anywhere that Ron doesn’t transition to being a woman after hogwarts. Ron should be a woman now.

    45
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    Mute Fozz
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:38 PM

    Pretty sure Ron being a boy was mentioned several times…

    20
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    Mute Imperator Isachukwu
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:47 PM

    Yes but he could have transitioned after leaving hogwarts. Would be stunning, brave and important if they made Ron a trans woman.

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    Mute Rock Stoneballs
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    Dec 21st 2015, 3:55 PM

    I’m actually offended they didn’t.

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    Mute Tricia Golden
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    Dec 21st 2015, 4:19 PM

    Ron is clearly identified in the books as being a red haired male.

    Herminone is clearly identified as being a brown haired female.

    She is not identified as being white. She was merely played by a white actress in one interpretation of the books.

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    Mute IrishGravyTrain
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    Dec 21st 2015, 5:48 PM

    Transgender is so 2014. Its all about Gender Fluid now. Keep up will you.

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    Mute Lorem Ipsum
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:38 PM

    “THIS IS SO IMPORTANT”

    Yeah, I dunno why I was getting so preoccupied with all that Syria stuff

    33
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    Mute luke frankus
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:00 PM

    Great aul trick this one! When a film or programme is dying out just switch one of the characters to be black and everybody will take notice…

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    Mute Anthony Byrne
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    Dec 21st 2015, 3:28 PM

    A complete and absolute non-article

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    Mute Paddy Kavanagh
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    Dec 21st 2015, 1:41 PM

    sounds like an ali g moment.

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    Mute David Harkin
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    Dec 21st 2015, 1:35 PM

    More to the point, when will the film version be released???

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    Mute ThatGuy
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    Dec 21st 2015, 3:49 PM

    The film version of a play, based on a movie that’s based on a book. :-D

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    Mute Meehawwl O'Buachailla
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    Dec 21st 2015, 4:08 PM

    I’m looking forward to the outtakes reel after that then.

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    Mute Paul Darby
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    Dec 21st 2015, 1:41 PM

    Aren’t the all a bit old to be playing any of these parts.

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    Mute Daniel Mccullagh
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:38 PM

    You obviously haven’t read the article. It takes place after the books

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    Mute Carol Oates
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    Dec 21st 2015, 4:35 PM

    I have zero issue with the casting. I think she’ll be wonderful. As others have said the character’s skin color isn’t specified and it doesn’t take away from the fact Emma Watson did a great job with the role. What I don’t like is some gleeful articles I’ve read today about how all is right now and taking a dig at Emma Watson because she’s white. Racism goes both ways. On the other hand, I can’t be good with a person of color James Bond, because unlike Hermione, the character of Bond could not be a poc based on decriptions.

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    Mute bandido
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    Dec 21st 2015, 6:22 PM

    When will the outrage commence for the other two characters being white?

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    Mute danny fitz
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    Dec 22nd 2015, 10:00 PM

    Only news here is JK Rowling now referring to herself in the third person.

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    Mute Bobby wilson
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    Dec 21st 2015, 10:52 PM

    What difference doest make about the colour of someone skin, as long they can act well……

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    Mute Anonymous Man
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    Dec 21st 2015, 10:22 PM

    Orange is the new Black…

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