A Monaghan doctor is warning that GP and out-of-hours practices are on the brink of collapse this winter.
Dr Illona Duffy says many colleagues are suffering burnout due to the heavy workload from providing COVID and non-COVID care.
It comes after a week in which the collapse of the HSE's contact tracing system left many GPs having to trace for close contacts of positive cases.
Four deaths and 859 new cases of the virus were reported yesterday, the second consecutive day the number of cases has dropped below 1,000.
Dr Duffy told Newstalk Breakfast with Susan Keogh that the high workload facing GPs is a huge concern.
She said: "What's going to happen this winter is we're going to get busier and busier without any extra supports.
"We are going to see a situation where people won't be able to access their GPs, they won't be able to get through on the phone, they won't be able to get that same day advice that they're used to.
"I think it's going to impact on hospital services which is something we don't want to see happen."
Dr Duffy said that staff working at general practices have been "under huge stress for months now".
She added that this is to be expected, with all sectors of the health system under pressure since the advent of COVID-19.
She said she is hopeful that Level 5 restrictions will help to lower the number of coronavirus cases here.
Main image: Dr Illona Duffy. Picture via HSEDr Duffy said the concern among healthcare workers has always been that "we've got to keep the levels low".
She said: "We realise it's just the extra workload because of COVID, but it's also the fact that people cant access normal medical services.
"General practice couldn't close but we know that throughout the country other hospitals and community services have closed because they've had to because of the rising number of COVID cases.
"Many of those services haven't reopened or have reopened but at lower rates of seeing less people.
"What that's doing is impacting on people's general health care.
Dr Duffy added: "If the rates continue to rise we will start to see more services in hospitals and the community closing again.
"One simple example is that we've had no primary psychology, no ability to refer patients to psychology for adults and children since March.
"The impact on people's mental health, and mental health has an impact on physical health, just can't be measured."
Dr Duffy reminded people that they need to restrict their movements and self-isolate if they have COVID-19 symptoms or have been in contact with someone who has the virus.
