GPs have insisted that they are continuing to care for patients in nursing homes, following media reports that some nursing homes were finding it difficult to get GPs to visit residents on-site.

According to the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) and the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP), the care of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic has presented a number of challenges for all healthcare staff, including GPs.

They said that GPs are continuing to care for their patients in nursing homes via telephone or video consultations, and where appropriate, on-site consultations. They are also providing ongoing advice to nursing home staff.

According to Dr Mary Favier, ICGP president, GPs have "stepped up to the mark across the country in dealing with the COVID-19 crisis".

"They are dealing with this crisis in their surgeries, in community assessment hubs and in nursing homes. We welcome the new regime of testing for nursing home residents and staff and as part of our ongoing efforts to provide the best care to our patients in the most appropriate settings, we are working with the HSE to ensure best care possible is delivered in the context of COVID-19," she commented.

She added that safe ways of delivering ongoing clinical care to patients, which respect the patient, relatives and staff, "are under constant review depending on the situation and intervention required".

Meanwhile, according to Dr Denis McCauley, chairman of the IMO's GP Committee, GPs nationwide are working hard to support vulnerable patients in nursing homes.

"Phone-based consultations must be seen in the context of nursing homes which have nurses working on site and follow the advice of the relevant public health authorities," he commented.

He said that it is important to note that on-site consultations can bring an infection risk for staff and patients within the nursing home and as a result, "it is important that such consultations are only carried out where necessary".

The IMO and the ICGP added that discussions are taking place with the HSE to try to figure out how GPs can enhance their support for patients in some particularly challenging nursing homes, which have clusters of COVID-19 positive residents.