Participants

• Dr John Maher - Host

Summary
This episode previews tonight's Wednesday Webinar (1 April 2026). A link to the recording will be added to the show notes in the coming days, once it becomes available.

The webinar will be introduced by Dr Suzanne Kelly, Deputy Medical Director, Irish College of GPs.

Topics and Speakers:

• Assessment and Management of Pain in Life Limiting Conditions - Dr David Byrne, St Francis Hospice Blanchardstown
• Open Disclosure in General Practice - Dr Siobhan O'Flaherty, GP Clinical Risk Advisor, Medisec
• "Skip the Dip" - Dr Scott Walkin, Clinical Lead for Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control, Irish College of GPs
• Cocaine Use - The GP Perspective - Dr Des Crowley, Academic Lead, Addiction Management Programme, Irish College of GPs

Links:
Irish College of GPs - Podcast Page
Wednesday Webinar Page (Including Links to Recordings)

Subscribe, like and review wherever you get your podcasts.
Webpage: https://www.irishcollegeofgps.ie/The-GP-Podcast
Email: podcast@icgp.ie

Participants

• Dr Bernard Kenny, GP Specialising in Substance Misuse; Director of Addiction Management in Primary Care, Irish College of GPs

• Dr John Maher - Host

Summary

In this Dr John Maher is joined by Dr Bernard Kenny to discuss codeine misuse and dependence in primary care. The conversation follows the recent launch or the newly revised Irish College of GPs Foundation Course in Addiction Management.

The course is free for Irish College of GP members, and is also suitable for GP Registrars and Practice Nurses. It attracts GMS study leave and CPD credits.

Completing the foundation course is a prerequisite for those interested in pursuing a Level 1 Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) contract with the HSE.

College Links:

• Irish College of GPs Website
• College Addiction Management Programme Overview
• Foundation Course in Addiction Management (Level 1)
• Certificate Course in Addiction Management (Level 2)

Other Relevant Links:

• OST Protocol – How to Become a Prescriber
• HSE OST Guidelines 2017
• Drug misuse and dependence: UK guidelines on clinical management
• HRB Bulletin: 2024 Drug Treatment Demand
• HPRA review of over the counter medications containing codeine
• Health Research Board Drug and Alcohol Survey
• Patterns of Analgesic Prescribing and High-Risk Prescribing in Primary Care in Ireland 2014-2022-a Repeated Cross-Sectional Study. European Journal of Pain. 2025. Mattsson M, Hassan Ali A, Boland F, et al

Subscribe, like and review wherever you get your podcasts.
Webpage: https://www.irishcollegeofgps.ie/The-GP-Podcast
Email: podcast@icgp.ie

Participants

• Dr David McConaghy - Clinical Lead for Prevention, Irish College of GPs; Medical Director, TLC Doc
• Dr John Maher - Host

Summary

We explore an approach to working in the Out of Hours GP (OOHS) setting in Ireland. Dr David shares insights from over 20 years of experience in Ireland and abroad, highlighting the importance of preparation, patient safety, and effective communication. The conversation covers practical advice for newcomers, strategies for managing difficult consultations, and the role of OOHS in supporting both patients and hospital colleagues.

Key themes include the scale of OOHS consultations in Ireland, the importance of slowing down consultations, collaborative working with colleagues, managing requests for controlled drugs and sick certificates, handling house calls and palliative care, and preparing for overnight shifts.

Links

• Irish College of GPs – General Practice Updates
• antibioticprescribing.ie
• HSE Medicines Management Programme – Benzodiazepine Prescribing Guidance
• Palliative Care Guidelines – A Toolkit for COVID 19 Management - HSE
• Roger Neighbour’s Consultation Model
• Oxford Handbook of General Practice – Emergencies Section
• Eolas Medical App

Disclaimer
The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to serve as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, nor does it replace independent clinical judgment or consultation with a qualified healthcare professional.

The views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Irish College of GPs.

Listeners are encouraged to review current clinical guidelines, product labelling, and relevant policies before applying any information discussed in this podcast.

This podcast does not establish a doctor–patient relationship. Healthcare professionals should exercise their own professional judgment in evaluating and applying information to specific clinical situations. Patients or members of the public should seek advice from their own qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition or treatment. It may not be possible or appropriate in all circumstances to follow the advice/processes suggested in this podcast, for example due to resource availability.

While efforts are made to ensure accuracy, medicine is a constantly evolving field, and no guarantee is made regarding the completeness, accuracy, or timeliness of the information presented.

By listening to this podcast, you acknowledge and agree that the hosts, guests, producers, affiliated organizations and the Irish College of GPs are not liable for any direct or indirect consequences resulting from the use of the information provided.

Subscribe, like and review wherever you get your podcasts.
Webpage: https://www.irishcollegeofgps.ie/The-GP-Podcast
Email: podcast@icgp.ie

Participants

• Dr Aoife O'Sullivan - Clinical Lead in Mental Health, Irish College of GPs

• Dr John Maher - Host

Summary

This is part 2 of our discussion on Eating Disorders in Primary Care, based on the Irish College of GPs Eating Disorders GPU, published in December 2025 (link below).

This is the second half of my conversation with Aoife, so please go back and listen to part 1 first, if you haven’t had a chance to listen yet.

Today, Aoife discusses aspects of care including

• An approach to focused examination;

• When to organize additional investigations including bloods, ECG and DEXA;

• When to refer to ED vs specialized eating disorder clinics;

• Overview of Medication options;

• Resources for patients and their families.

Links
Irish College of GPs Website
Eating Disorders: General Practice Update (Irish College of GPs, December 2025)
National Clinical Programme for Eating Disorders Model of Care

Overcoming Binge Eating, Dr Christopher G Fairburn

Links from Part 1

Bodywhys.ie - HSE NCPED Eating Disorders App (Apple/iOS)

Bodywhys.ie – Free PiLaR Programme for Families

Irish Emergency Department Guidelines on Eating Disorders

Specialised Eating Disorder Teams

Eating Disorders Contact Teams

SCOFF Questionnaire – MDCalc.com

Disclaimer
The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to serve as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, nor does it replace independent clinical judgment or consultation with a qualified healthcare professional.

The views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Irish College of GPs.

Listeners are encouraged to review current clinical guidelines, product labelling, and relevant policies before applying any information discussed in this podcast.

This podcast does not establish a doctor–patient relationship. Healthcare professionals should exercise their own professional judgment in evaluating and applying information to specific clinical situations. Patients or members of the public should seek advice from their own qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition or treatment. It may not be possible or appropriate in all circumstances to follow the advice/processes suggested in this podcast, for example due to resource availability.

While efforts are made to ensure accuracy, medicine is a constantly evolving field, and no guarantee is made regarding the completeness, accuracy, or timeliness of the information presented.

By listening to this podcast, you acknowledge and agree that the hosts, guests, producers, affiliated organizations and the Irish College of GPs are not liable for any direct or indirect consequences resulting from the use of the information provided.

Subscribe, like and review wherever you get your podcasts.
Webpage: https://www.irishcollegeofgps.ie/The-GP-Podcast
Email: podcast@icgp.ie

Participants

• Dr Scott Walkin - Clinical Lead for Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control, Irish College of GPs

• Dr John Maher - Host

Summary

In today's episode, we discuss antimicrobial management of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in primary care. We explore the challenges of antibiotic stewardship in Ireland, the importance of accurate diagnosis with an emphasis on history and examination, and the role of dipstick urinalysis. We also cover treatment options, management of recurrence, considerations for particular cohorts such as nursing home residents, and importance of safety netting in patient education.

Acknowledgements

Dr Paul Ryan - GP and Pharmacist
Mala Shah - Chief 2 Antimicrobial Pharmacist, HSE
Dr Robyn Traynor - Clinical Microbiology SpR

Links
Irish College of GPs Website
www.antibioticprescribing.ie
Health Protection Surveillance Centre. Surveillance of Antimicrobial Consumption in Ireland – Quarterly Report 2025
Antimicrobial consumption dashboard (ESAC-Net) - European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
RESIST newsletter - Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control (AMRIC) Team

Disclaimer
The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to serve as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, nor does it replace independent clinical judgment or consultation with a qualified healthcare professional.

The views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Irish College of GPs.

Listeners are encouraged to review current clinical guidelines, product labelling, and relevant policies before applying any information discussed in this podcast.

This podcast does not establish a doctor–patient relationship. Healthcare professionals should exercise their own professional judgment in evaluating and applying information to specific clinical situations. Patients or members of the public should seek advice from their own qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition or treatment. It may not be possible or appropriate in all circumstances to follow the advice/processes suggested in this podcast, for example due to resource availability.

While efforts are made to ensure accuracy, medicine is a constantly evolving field, and no guarantee is made regarding the completeness, accuracy, or timeliness of the information presented.

By listening to this podcast, you acknowledge and agree that the hosts, guests, producers, affiliated organizations and the Irish College of GPs are not liable for any direct or indirect consequences resulting from the use of the information provided.

Subscribe, like and review wherever you get your podcasts.
Webpage: https://www.irishcollegeofgps.ie/The-GP-Podcast
Email: podcast@icgp.ie