'Health service faces funding crisis", IMO AGM told

The Irish health service is facing a crisis of funding, according to the incoming president of the Irish Medical Organisation, Dr Denis McAuley.

Speaking at the Organisation's AGM, Dr McAuley, who works as a GP in Donegal, said there needs to be a step change that allows rapid and significant funding in infrastructure and workforce. 
 
"The current HSE recruitment freeze is exacerbating problems and posing enormous strain on a system already under pressure. Growing population and longer life expectancy demands greater investment in health infrastructure and workforce to meet the needs of patients and this is simply not happening at the speed that is required.”
 
Dr McCauley continued: “The doctor, patient relationship is the foundational relationship in medicine. We have too few doctors and we have concerns that we are moving to a model of fragmented care where patients are not best served. The value and expertise of doctors, after years of training, should not be undermined but supported, encouraged, and resourced. Of course, there will be new grades within the health system such as physician associates. They have their own role to play, in line with their training, but they cannot replace doctors.

"There have been a number of controversies in the NHS arising from the growing use of Physician Associates (PAs) in place of doctors as opposed to in a supporting role to doctors so if they are to be deployed in the Irish system, it is vital that their role is regulated and limited.”

Other motions to be debated at the AGM included:
 

• The HSE Recruitment Freeze
• The need for greater capacity and manpower planning
• The need to restrict the use of social media by young people on the grounds of mental health.