GPWorks

In this episode, Prof. Susan Smith brings strong insights into the varied life of a GP and academic. She describes how she became a GP, and the journey into academic general practice. Sharing her time between the Russell Centre in Tallaght, where we recorded this, and her part time role in general practice in Inchicore, Dr Smith describes her passion for general practice, and her work in highlighting the impact of unequal access to healthcare for poorer communities. This podcast was presented and produced by Aileen O'Meara for the Irish College of GPs. You can contact us at media@icgp.ie

In this episode, Dr Mike O'Callaghan takes us into the fascinating world of GP data, an area that enables us to learn more about the impact of general practice on Irish healthcare. Formerly with Intel, Mike changed career to general practice and works in a busy practice in Bruff, Co. Limerick, juggling this with his role as the Clinical Lead in the Research, Policy and Information Department of the College. To contact the podcast, email us at media@icgp.ie Find out more about the Irish College of GPs at www.irishcollegeofgps.ie

At the end of a very busy year for the Irish College of GPs, our CEO Fintan Foy reflects back on 2024, and reviews the challenges of a rapidly expanding College in 2025. This interview gives a great insight and update on the work of the Irish College of GPs, and the plans ahead. For more about the Irish College of GPs, go to www.IrishCollegeofGPs.ie Presented and produced by Aileen O'Meara. To contact the podcast team, email us at media@icgp.ie

The College's President, Dr Pat Durcan, has been a GP in Mayo, and CME trainer in Galway or 40 years, and brings a depth of knowledge and expertise to his role. In this interview, he described how becoming a GP was a very different experience back in 1980s Ireland, when the College had not yet been formed, and Dr Michael Boland had just begun his pioneering efforts to transform the training of GPs in Ireland. If you wish to contact the podcast team, email us at media@icgp.ie And do tell your colleagues about our podcast.

As the College celebrates its 40th anniversary, we talk to Fionán Ó'Cuinneagáin, the College's first CEO, who helped guide the fledgling College from its earliest days. His insights i are a reminder of the huge strides that General Practice has taken in the recognition of the specialty in the Irish health service, and the challenges it faced from the beginning. The College has published a history of the College, written by Michael Hanna, which is the comprehensive story of the College's origins. This podcast was presented and produced by Aileen O'Meara, on behalf of the irish College of GPs. You can contact the podcast team at media@icgp.ie The Irish College of GPs website is: www.IrishCollegeofGPs.ie #ICGP #IrishCollegeofGPs #BEaGP

Recently qualified GP Dr Oisin Brady Bates explains why he is attending the prestigious WONCA Europe conference in Dublin at the end of September. Find out more about this conference and the pre-conference events at www.woncaeurope2024.org Dr Brady Bates is co-chair of the Social Committee of WONCA Europe, and a member of the EYFDM - the European Young Family Doctors Movement. He's the lead for the Planetary Health sub-group. He describes the advantages of going to WONCA Europe. WONCA is the global movement for family doctors, and WONCA Europe is the European branch, bringing together family doctors from all over Europe to meet together, and learn and network. This podcast is presented and produced by Aileen O'Meara for the irish College of GPs. Contact us at media@icgp.ie www.IrishCollegeofGPs.ie

In this episode, the Director of Women's Health, Dr Laura Cullen, describes the influence of Dr Austin O'Carroll in her decision to become a GP; how the city-born GP became a rural doctor, the challenges of rural general practice, and her ambitions for developing the work of GPs in Women's Health services. GP Works is presented and produced by Aileen O'Meara, for the Irish College of GPs. You can contact us at media@icgp.ie

Did you know that the ICGP is hosting the Wonca Europe conference in Dublin in September? Thousands of GPs will gather for several days in the Convention Centre in Dublin in late September to hear the latest developments, terrific insights into family practice, and have the great opportunity to hear from our European peers. Dr Andrée Rochfort is a GP in Wexford, and the Co-Chair of the Scientific committee of Wonca Europe. Listen to her describe the exciting build up to this terrific gathering, and why Irish doctors should come along. Find out more about the conference at www.woncaeurope2024.org Find out more about the ICGP at www.icgp.ie This podcast is produced by Aileen O'Meara for the ICGP. Email us at media@icgp.ie

Dr Noreen Lineen-Curtis is a GP on 3 western islands off the coast of Mayo - Clare Island, Achill Beg and Inishbiggle. She's been a GP for over 20 years, and is the daughter of a GP as well. She describes how telemedicine and remote medicine is making a huge difference to ensuring patients can have consultations with hospital based consultants without leaving the island. She also gives due credit to the role and work of practice nurses on the islands who provide an essential role in managing the needs of patients on the ground. GP Works is produced by Aileen O'Meara for the Irish College of General Practitioners. You can contact the podcast at media@icgp.ie

In a wide-ranging interview, well-known GP Dr Rita Doyle gives us her insights and experience of 40 years in general practice, in Bray Co. Wicklow. She was the first GP to become President of the Medical Council, and she was also President of the ICGP. Dr Doyle reflects on the importance of the doctor-patient relationship, and continuity of care that general practice provides. This podcast is produced by Aileen O'Meara for the Irish College of General Practitioners. Contact us at media@icgp.ie

DR Suzanne Kelly talks about taking on the role of Assistant Medical Director of the Irish College of General Practitioners, following a successful few years as Clinical Lead for Diabetes. Ballincollig-based, and Dublin born and bred, Dr Kelly talks about why she chose general practice, the influence of her GP parents, and the importance of encouraging women to becoming leaders in general practice. This podcast is produced by Aileen O'Meara for the Irish College of General Practitioners. Contact us at media@icgp.ie

Prof. Claire Collins has been Chief Operating Officer for 14 months now, succeeding Dermot Folan in the ICGP's pivotal role at a time of huge expansion and change in the College. Most people in the College knew Claire as the Director of Research, a role she held for 18 years. In this interview she gives her insights into the challenges of the new role and how she addresses them. GP Works is presented and produced by Aileen O'Meara for the Irish College of General Practitioners. To contact us, email Aileen at media@icgp.ie www.icgp.ie

The ICGP's new Board chair, Dr Deirdre Collins, a GP in Kilcullen, Co Kildare, talks about how she became a GP, new leadership initiatives, and how the College can help with the growing workload facing GPs and their practices. The GP Works podcast is presented and produced by Aileen O'Meara, for the Irish College of General Practitioners. To contact the podcast, email media@icgp.ie To find out more about the ICGP, go to www.icgp.ie

The ICGP's new President Dr Eamonn Shanahan is the third generation of Shanahans to provide general practice to the communities around Farranfore, in Co Kerry. In this podcast interview, he talks about how general practice has changed over the past 20 years, the challenges of GP workloads and recruiting GPs in rural areas, and the recognition that the new generation of GPs expect a good work-life balance. He also tells us about being one of Ireland's longest "radio doctors" and gives his views on the important role of practice nurses. To contact the podcast, email media@icgp.ie This podcast is produced by Aileen O'Meara Media Ltd for the Irish College of General Practitioners. Find out more at www.icgp.ie

The ICGP, with the support of the HSE and the Department of Health, has begun the non-EU Rural GPprogramme, an initiative to enable non-EU highly qualified GPs to work in mostly single-handed GP practices in rural Ireland. With the continuing shortage of GPs and growing workforce pressures, the ICGP's Medical Director, Dr Diarmuid Quinlan, explains the context behind this initiative. To find out more about the Irish College of General Practitioners, go to www.icgp.ie To find out more about the non-EU Rural GP Programme, search "non EU" in the ICGP website. To contact this podcast, please email media@icgp.ie

Dr Edel McGinnity is a GP in Blanchardstown, in west Dublin, and sees at firsthand the pressures of the crisis in children's mental health services. GPs are the first port of call for families with children in distress, and mental health problems are particularly acute in areas of disadvantage, which includes her catchment area. In this interview, Dr McGinnity gives an insight into the dilemmas of trying to navigate the maze of services, and the daily struggle to help her patients. This podcast is produced by Aileen O'Meara for the Irish College of General Practitioners. Find out more about the College at www.icgp.ie Contact the podcast at media@icgp.ie

Following a successful pilot during the pandemic, the ICGP's Mentoring Programme is now available for individual doctors who would like a mentor to help them with a particular issue in their practice. What is mentoring and how does it work? And what is is not? In this episode Dr Knut Moe, the Project Lead for the Mentoring programme, and Executive Coach and professor Mentor expert Hannah Carney join us to discuss the programme, and how it can help members. To find out more about the mentoring programme, go to the College's website page https://www.icgp.ie/go/membership/mentoring and login there. To contact the podcast team, email Aileen O'Meara at media@icgp.ie www.icgp.ie

Are you a doctor with little work-life balance, putting others' needs before yours? In this episode, we discuss doctors' health and wellbeing with Dr Andrée Rochfort, a GP in Gorey Co. Wexford, and the Director of the ICGP's Doctors' in Health Programme. She describes the culture of putting others first, and the importance of self-care for your physical and psychological health. Dr Rochfort explains the supports available for GPs, including the monthly Wellbeing Webinar, the GP for every NCHD programme, the Doctors' Mentorship programme, and resources for doctors available via the College website page www.icgp.ie/doctorshealth To contact the podcast, email us at ICGP.news@gmail.com. This podcast is produced by the Irish College of General Practitioners. www.icgp.ie

A year ago, Russian forces invaded Ukraine, resulting in tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees seeking homes and shelter across Europe and the world. In Ireland, we have taken in nearly 50,000 Ukrainian refugees to date, and the healthcare system has responded. In this episode, Ukrainian-born GP and the ICGP/HSE Lead in the Ukrainian healthcare response, Dr Kateryna Kachurets, describes the Irish response to this unprecedented refugee influx. You can find out more about the resources for supporting Ukrainian patients on the ICGP website - www.icgp.ie Follow the College on Twitter @ICGPnews and you can contact the podcast at ICGP.news@gmail.com

In this episode, the Chief Executive Officer of the Irish College of General Practitioners, Fintan Foy, discusses the ICGP's Strategy - "Navigating the Future of General Practice 2023 - 2026", which sets out a roadmap for the College at a time of a challenging GP workforce crisis and a rapid expansion of the College's staff numbers and training responsibilities. To read the full Strategy go to this link. https://www.icgp.ie/go/about/introducing_the_icgp/statement_of_strategy?spId=FDA208F3-4C96-40F9-BBFCB68A205ECC8C To find out more about the Irish College of General Practitioners go to www.icgp.ie To contact this podcast, email us at ICGP.news@gmail.com

What can GPs do to help the environment and run sustainable practices? What can doctors do to help planetary health, which has such a huge impact on human health? Dr Sean Owens is GP in the north east, and a member of Doctors for the Environment and the ICGP Sustainability Working Group. As COP27 comes to a close, he describes the practical things that GPs can do to help reduce carbon emissions, reduce energy use, and help with biodiversity. There is an infographic referred to in this podcast. You can see it here on the ICGP dedicated website page where there are lots of other resources, including Dr Owens' blog. https://www.icgp.ie/go/in_the_practice/planetary_health?spId=58C5887D-5EF5-4E05-8CDCF993FF445BC5 This podcast is produced by Aileen O'Meara for the ICGP. Contact us at ICGP.news@gmail.com

In this episode, the ICGP's Chairman Dr John Farrell, and former President Prof. Tom O'Dowd, discuss the College's Discussion Paper, "Shaping the Future", in which the ICGP proposes 10 possible solutions to the workforce and workload crisis in general practice in Ireland. This podcast was recorded on 9th November 2022. You can download a copy of the "Shaping the Future" discussion document at www.icgp.ie, or at this link https://www.icgpnews.ie/press-release-icgp-proposes-10-solutions-to-gp-workforce-workload-crisis/ You can contact the GP Works producer, Aileen O'Meara at ICGP.news@gmail.com www.icgp.ie

What are the career pathways and earnings potential in general practice in Ireland? In this episode, Dr Knut Moe, the Director of the ICGP's Network of Establishing GPs (NEGS) describes the career pathways, the work choices, and the ability to maintain a good work life balance as a GP in Ireland. To find out more about being a GP in Ireland, check out the ICGP's dedicated website www.beagp.com

In this episode, the new President of the ICGP, Dr Paul Armstrong, describes his vision for general practice, the challenges facing GPs, and his experience in helping create community housing projects. Dr Armstrong is based at the Lifford & Castlefinn Primary Care Centre, in Lifford, Co Donegal, on the border with Strabane, in northern Ireland. We recorded this episode in his surgery there. To find out more about the Irish College of General Practitioners, go to www.icgp.ie. To contact this podcast, email ICGP.news@gmail.com

In this episode, we're bringing you a recording of our panel discussion at the June 2022 Annual Conference, held as part of Rural WONCA in the University of Limerick in June. The international panel discussion was chaired by our Medical Director Dr Diarmuid Quinlan, and GPs discussed the common challenges in providing quality healthcare close to their patients. GENERAL PRACTICE VISION FOR THE FUTURE – A PANEL DISCUSSION CO-CHAIRS: Dr Diarmuid Quinlan, Medical Director, ICGP and Dr Ewen McPhee, Immediate Past President ACRRM PANEL MEMBERS: Prof Tom O'Dowd, President of ICGP; Dr Karen Price, President RACGP; Dr Sankha Randenikumara, GP, Sri Lanka, Young Doctors' Representative of WONCA; Dr Knut Moe, NEGs Director, ICGP; Dr Fayqa Zia, GP from Afghanistan; Prof Dame Clare Gerada, GP South London, UK; Dr Bruce Chater, Associate Professor & Head Mayne Academy of Rural and Remote Medicine, Rural Clinical School, Queensland, Australia To find out more about the Irish College of General Practitioners, go to www.icgp.ie Follow us on Twitter ICGP News You can contact the GP Works production team at ICGP.news@gmail.com

In this episode, we talk to Dr Cathy Cullen, who's the Clinical Director of the Malaysia Ireland Training Programme for Family Medicine, or MInTFM for short. This is the 4-year Malaysia programme for training doctors as Family Medicine Specialists, the equivalent of Irish General Practitioners, and was founded by ICGP, IHEED, and RUMC (RCSI & UCD) in 2019. Dr Cullen became Clinical Director of MInTFM last September, replacing the founding Clinical Director, Dr John Latham, who began the process of building the programme when the Government of Malaysia asked the ICGP to establish a training programme in 2019. Dr Cullen explains how the programme has expanded fast, and is now delivered in Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Johor, with 210 trainees and 120 trainees to join in October 2022. This interview was recorded in June 2022. Check out this website for more details of the programme: https://www.rcsiucd.edu.my/programmes/mintfm/ And this website for latest news from MInTFM https://www.rcsiucd.edu.my/mintfm-happenings/ www.icgp.ie

In this episode, the ICGP's Medical Director, Dr Diarmuid Quinlan, previews the highlights of this year's Annual Conference, which will be held on June 18th in the University of Limerick. The College's conference is being held alongside the 4-day international WONCA World Rural Health conference, and it's an opportunity to bring an international dimension to the challenges and strengths of rural and remote general practice. The full programme for the ICGP's Annual Conference can be accessed at www.icgp.ie Details of the WONCA Rural Health conference can be found here https://www.woncarhc2022.com/ To contact the GP Works team, please email us at ICGP.news@icgp.ie To contact the ICGP, please email info@icgp.ie

The Irish College of General Practitioners, the professional and educational body for Irish GPs, launched a guide for members to recognise and advise patients who are experiencing domestic violence abuse (DVA) in their lives, on May 18th in Dublin. The guide helps GPs recognise and act on the indicators of DVA, which are not always obvious. The ICGP's Director of Women's Health, Dr Nóirín O'Herlihy, said: “For GPs, it is not always easy to identify if a patient is experiencing domestic violence and abuse. For patients, it can be difficult to disclose it. It is important for GPs to be confident to ask patients about the possibility of domestic violence and abuse when it is safe. GPs are more likely to ask in high-risk situations, for example, during pregnancy. This important guide was launched by the Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee TD, and in this episode, we bring you a recording of the press conference. In attendance alongside the Minister were Fintan Foy, CEO of the ICGP, Dr Velma Harkins, GP & Chair, Quality, Safety & Standards ICGP, Dr Nóirín O'Herlihy, Director Women's Health ICGP, and Dr John Farrell, Chairman of the ICGP Board. A full copy of the guide “Domestic Violence and Abuse Recognition and Management in General Practice” is available for members at www.icgp.ie The press release accompanying the launch is available here To contact the ICGP, please email info@icgp.ie For media queries, please email ICGP.news@gmail.com

In this special episode of GP Works, Tallaght GP and Ukrainian national Dr Kateryna Kachurets explains the difference between the Ukrainian and Irish health systems and outlines some things to keep in mind when looking after incoming Ukrainian people.

How do you set up a GP practice in Ireland and where can you find out what's involved? In this podcast, Dr Knut Moe who's a GP in Dublin and the Director of the Network of Establishing GPs explains what's involved, and breaks down some of the misconceptions around the complexities of setting up a practice for GPs who are newly qualified.

As the global COVID-19 pandemic recedes, host Aileen O'Meara meets with doctors Tony Cox, Mary Favier, Nuala O'Connor, and Diarmuid Quinlan to assess the impact and legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic for General Practice.

Rural general practice is facing many challenges and changes, and this year, the WONCA World Rural Health Conference will be held in the University of Limerick - the first time this major conference is being held in Ireland. In this episode, Prof. Liam Glynn, from the UL School of Medicine, and Dr Jerry Cowley, founder of the Rural, Island and Dispensing Doctors of ireland, talk about the significance of this conference, within the context of the challenges facing general practice services in rural Ireland. This international conference will hear a range of speakers talk about community-based general practice and primary care services in many other countries around the globe, while seeking to find innovative solutions to the challenges. The Conference is being held on 17 - 20 June in the University of Limerick campus. It's being co-hosted by the Irish College of General Practitioners, UL School of Medicine, and the Rural, Island and Dispensing Doctors of Ireland. Read the press release about the conference here https://www.ul.ie/medicine/news/ul-host-wonca-world-rural-health- conference-2022 Register for the conference here registrationWRHC2022@ul.ie Access the Conference website here https://www.woncarhc2022.com

In this special episode to celebrate International Women's Day 2022, we speak to the ICGP's Director of Women's Health, Dr Nóirín O'Herlihy about the expansion in training for GPs in women's health, and the appointment of the new Clinical Lead in Women's Health in the ICGP. To find out more about the ICGP go to www.icgp.ie

In May 2021, Prof. Tom O'Dowd became the President of the Irish College of General Practitioners. In this podcast, he talks about the GP identity, and his vision for the future of general practice in Ireland, in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic and GPs' role in its management in Ireland since March 2020. Follow the ICGP on Twitter on @ICGPnews. www.icgp.ie

Cork-born and bred GP Dr Nuala O’Connor is now a regular face on our TV screens and an expert COVID-19 voice on radio both nationally and locally. The ICGP’s expert on COVID-19 is the ICGP’s Clinical Lead on Prevention of Healthcare-Associated Infection/ Anti-microbial drug resistance (HCAI/AMR). In this episode of GP Works Dr O'Connor gives us an insight in her career in general practice and how she became the "go-to" person on COVID-19 advice, and where the phrase "the full Nuala" came from. Recorded on May 14th 2020

Do GPs make good politicians? As the country absorbs the results of the last general election, former Fine Gael TD, Liam Twomey and former Independent TD, Dr. Michael Harty discuss their experiences in the Dáil and whether GPs make for good TDs.

Dr. Yassir Javaid sits down with Dr. Joe Gallagher at the ICGP for a discussion about his career, new technologies, and winning the race against stroke.

Dr Tony Foley, author of the ICGP Quick Reference Guide (QRG) to Dementia talks about the importance of early diagnosis, support for carers and available services. The QRG can be found at: https://bit.ly/30RFMxC For further information go to: www.alzheimer.ie; www.understandtogether.ie; www.hospicefoundation.ie

In this episode, ICGP Medical Director Tony Cox talks to Dr Sumi Dunne, a GP in Portarlington Co. Laois, Clinical Lecturer in the Department of General Practice in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, and Clinical Expert on RTE's "Operation Transformation". Dr Sumi Dunne talks about working as a GP in Ireland, how to maintain a healthy balanced lifestyle, her work on "Operation Transformation" and the importance of free contraception and abortion healthcare in Ireland.

In this episode of GPWorks, ICGP Medical Director Tony Cox hosts an insightful discussion about the experiences and challenges faced by general practitioners in dealing with the issue of prescribing benzodiazepines. The discussion follows a session at the ICGP Winter Meeting in Athlone based on recent Medical Council recommendations concerning the prescribing of benzodiazepines: 'Benzodiazepines "But I really need that tablet doctor!" Featured on this episode of the podcast is the panel of experts that attended the session: Dr Ide Delargy, Director of the Addiction Management in Primary Care Programme, Dr Edel McGinnity, Deepend GP, Dr Tom O'Dowd, GP in Tallaght and former Primary Care Professor in TCD, Dr Colin Bradley, Professor of General Practice in UCC, Dr Des Crowley, Assistant Director Addiction Management in the ICGP. The podcast also includes insights from Katie Mulroy, Solicitor and Legal Advisor from the Medical Council Ireland.

In this episode of GPWorks, ICGP Quality and Policy Manager Dr Helen McVeigh talks to Dr Deirdre Johnston from the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences in John Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore. Deirdre talks about the experience she gained during her career; from training in medicine in Galway to moving to Alberta Canada specialising in psychiatry for the elderly.

In this episode of GPWorks Dr Helen McVeigh, Quality and Policy Manager in the ICGP talks to Dr. Johnny Sweeney, GP in Stranorlar Co. Donegal and GP IT Project Manager in the ICGP. Dr. Sweeney discusses working as a GP in rural Donegal, being the GP IT Project Manager, using technology in General Practice and his passion for flying.

In this episode of GPWorks Dr. Mary Short talks to Dr. Rukshan Goonewardena, a GP in Ballyjamesduff Co. Cavan and Director of the Network of Establishing General Practicioners (NEGS)in the ICGP. Dr. Rukshan encourages young GP graduates to take positions and set up practices, discusses his transition from hospital medicine to working as a GP and stresses the importance of maintaining a work-life balance.

In this podcast, Dr Mark O'Kelly talks to Dr Paul Gregan, a GP principal in Deansgrange Co. Dublin. Dr Paul Gregan is also the Specialist Consultant in Palliative Care Medicine in Blackrock Hospice and in St Michael's Dun Laoghaire. He discusses how he balances a dual role as a half-time GP and a half-time Palliative Care Consultant, and also discusses the benefits to a palliative approach to breathless patients.

In this illuminating episode, Dr Joe Gallagher talks to Dr Peter Harrington about the ICGP Global Health Programme, which helps develop GP-led primary care services in one of the poorest countries in the world, Malawi in Africa. To find out more go to www.icgp.ie/courses/global-health or email globalhealth@icgp.ie

In this podcast Dr Joe Gallagher speaks to Dr Tom Brett from Co. Mayo, who is a Professor of General Practice at the University of Notre Dame in Western Australia. Tom discusses his career as a GP both in Ireland and Australia and his career as a Professor. He also talks about his current work and extensive research on the condition Familial Hypercholesterolemia.

Dr Mary Favier is the new president of the ICGP for 2019. In this podcast she discusses her plans and ideas for the presidency, such as improving communication and making the college more relevant for its members. She also discusses the challenges of working in general practice in areas of high deprivation, and gives her advice to new members of the ICGP.

Recording of Dr Austin O'Carroll giving the Dr Gertrude Ronan Foundation Lecture at the ICGP Annual Conference and AGM 2019 entitled "The Art of Ignoring the Obvious. Health Inequity" - the single biggest and most under-treated preventable cause of premature mortality. The Foundation Lecture was given on Saturday the 4th of May.

GP Dr Mary Kearney is co-author of the Quick Reference Guide to Migraine management in general practice. In this podcast, she talks about how the guide was developed, and how GPs can help migraine sufferers. The guide is available on the ICGP website. www.icgp.ie

Dr Rita Doyle is the first woman President of the Medical Council in Ireland, and the first full time GP to have this role. On International Women's Day, the ICGP's Director of Women's Health, Dr Mary Short, discusses the challenges of general practice for women GPs, and the challenges of being the President of the Medical Council. In this honest and illuminating conversation, Dr Doyle gives deep insights into life as a woman GP, and how it has changed.

In this short interview, Dr. Andree Rochford discusses the impact of suicide on general practitioners and the supports that are available to them.