IMO AGM 2021- GPs look ahead to future challenges

IMO AGM 2021, Virtual Conference, 17 April

The IMO elected two new members onto its GP committee at the Organisation’s recent AGM. Louth GP Dr Amy Morgan and Dublin GP Dr Knut Moe joined the committee as the IMO’s national GP meeting on Monday 12 April kickstarted a week-long series of IMO AGM online events. Almost 300 GP members tuned into the meeting, which provided a review of the year and an analysis of current and future challenges. A questions and answers session followed.

Donegal GP Dr Denis McCauley, who was re-elected Chair of the GP committee, told the Medical Independent (MI) that feedback from GPs was positive.

“People were generally appreciative of the IMO’s efforts over the past year. When the pandemic emerged, the financial model of general practice was under threat and the IMO worked to ensure the continued viability of general practice. There was relief and thanks expressed by members for this.”

Dr Morgan told MI she was “really delighted” to be elected to the committee.

“It’s been a really challenging year for everybody in healthcare and general practice has been at the frontline of pandemic management, whilst trying to maintain continuity of regular services,” said Dr Morgan, who is based at Bryanstown Medical Centre, Drogheda, Co Louth.

“I was really motivated by the work done and leadership displayed by both ICGP and IMO members and the latter particularly rallied hard to ensure that general practice could survive to provide care to patients and support GPs, many of whom were taking on additional roles to contribute to the fight against Covid.

“As a young, establishing GP working in the north-east, I was inspired by the work of others to become more actively involved. And while general practice is a very broad church, encompassing doctors of all ages and whom are at varying stages of their career, I am committed to ensuring general practice continues to be a viable and sustainable career option for young doctors.”

Dr Morgan added that efforts must continue to attract doctors to the profession to ensure high-quality community care continues after Covid-19. Dr Moe, who recently became Director of the ICGP Network of Establishing GPs, said he was “honoured” to join the committee. He said the IMO has done a lot of ‘heavy-lifting’ in coordinating the GP Covid-19 response, leading the community vaccination roll-out and advocating for GP funding and supports in the past year. Dr Moe said he is “delighted to be getting involved and looking forward to contributing”.