The Irish College of General Practitioners perceives Pandemic Influenza as potentially posing a serious health threat to the nation. As general practitioners, we have a duty of care to our patients, particularly those at risk. General practitioners must also now consider the proposal issued by the HSE/DoHC from an organisational and safety perspective. There are considerable workload and organisational issues to be considered.

For the past number of years the College has been represented on the Pandemic Influenza Expert Group (PIEG) and our role has been to advise on clinical-related issues and interpretations as they relate to general practice. Since the emergence of Pandemic Influenza A H1N1 earlier this year, through its role on the PIEG, the College also engaged with the HSE/Population Health and the Health Protection Surveillence Centre (HPSC) in developing educational information for general practitioners relating to the prevention, diagnosis and clinical management of pandemic influenza.

It is not within the remit of the ICGP to agree arrangements for Pandemic Vaccination or any GP service and at no stage did the College involve itself in any such arrangements.

It is a matter of regret that The HSE/DoHC have now issued a letter of offer to individual GPs without any engagement with the Irish Medical Organisation.

For its part the ICGP will provide information and clarity on the clinical issues that GPs need to address.

1st October, 2009.