New ICGP integrated care leads start roles

The integrated care roles are in the areas of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus. 

<br />The leads include: Dr Diarmuid Quinlan (diabetes), Dr Joe Gallagher (cardiovascular disease), Dr Dermot Nolan (asthma) and Dr Mark O’Kelly (COPD). Each role will last for two years. 

<br />Dr Nuala O’Connor, ICGP GP lead, HSE Antimicrobial and Infection Control Team (AMR-IC), also attended the meeting. <br />Chronic disease management is a major part of GP workload and the team are aiming to improve standards of care and services for patients. 

<br />They will work to deliver increased capacity for the delivery of community based care to patients with complex comorbidities. <br />Dr Quinlan told the Medical Independent (MI) he is delighted to take up the position and thanked the HSE and ICGP for delivering the roles. 

<br />Commenting on his main objectives in the role, Dr Quinlan said he aims to increase the number of visits provided by the State for public type 2 diabetes patients from two to three. 

<br />The Model of Integrated Care for Patients with Type 2 Diabetes, approved in March, recommends patient with type 2 diabetes visit their GP three times per annum, but the third visit is as yet unfunded, it is understood. 

<br />Dr Quinlan is also hoping to end the inequity of care where private type 2 diabetes patients have to pay for their GP care but do not have to pay for care in hospital, where type 2 diabetes care is more costly, he said. 

<br />As reported by the paper late last year, following renewed discussions between the HSE and ICGP agreement was reached between both organisations on developing the new posts. 

<br />Some 14 GP leads withdrew their involvement in the clinical care programmes in 2013 due to increased GP workload without transfer of resources and a lack of investment in primary care.

<br />In a letter to then Minister for Health James Reilly explaining the decision, the College argued there had “no tangible attempt to redirect resources to the primary care sector”.