A shortage of GPs has lead to a number of people who are wards of court having to remain in hospital for weeks when they could be discharged to nursing homes or other facilities, the president of the High Court has been told.

GPs recognise that self-harm is a serious risk factor for suicide but many feel ill-equipped to help patients manage their behaviour, it has emerged.

An undercover investigation has found some doctors are encouraging patients to seek compensation following personal injury.

Hundreds of GPs will lead a cavalcade of cars to the Dáil tomorrow to protest at the conditions and cuts faced by doctors.

Family doctors have “yet to see the evidence” that systems will be in place to allow the delivery of an abortion service from January 1, according to the vice-president of the Irish Irish College of General Practitioners.

The prospect of women being able to access abortion services in Ireland in just four weeks’ time is looking increasingly uncertain following the escalation of a row between family doctors and their training body — and the snail’s pace at which the proposed legislation is moving through the Dáil.

However, Mr Harris said they have to provide information about abortion.

An Extraordinary General Meeting of the Irish College of General Practitioners will take place today over abortion services.

A representative body for GPs has warned abortion services here will "fall short of what women deserve" with a number of key issues either unaddressed or in need of clarity.

Evelyn Ring The Irish College of General Practitioners will respond later today to a call for an extraordinary general meeting to discuss GPs’ concerns about providing abortion services.

The Government has been accused by the National Association of General Practitioners (NAGP) of manipulating hospital waiting lists.

The Minister for Health Simon Harris has been accused of being out of touch with GPs.

The association representing the bulk of the country’s GPs is holding an extraordinary general meeting tomorrow against a backdrop of no engagement with the Department of Health on how it plans to roll out a doctor-led abortion service.

The National Association of General Practitioners has expressed concern at the outsourcing of smear tests.

The Minister for Health Simon Harris has promised significant resources are available for new GP contracts.

There will be free online GP consultations available tomorrow for World Health Day.

It is in keeping with the annual whinge-fest from teachers and doctors — I mean conference season — that the issue of pay makes its way to the top of the agenda, writes Daniel McConnell.

The Irish Medical Organisation is calling on the Government to tackle the shortage of GPs.

The Taoiseach has been accused of 'scapegoating' GPs for hospital overcrowding.

An attempt to involve family doctors in reducing long waiting times for women with a distressing gynae- cological problem has failed after GPs said that they were not prepared to take on additional unpaid work.

A day in the working life of Iona Maris, paediatrician at Bon Secours Hospital.

Older people with an intellectual disability can face “serious social isolation” which can have a negative impact on their health, writes Noel Baker.

Family doctors in Galway have been told by the laboratory manager at Galway University Hospitals not to refer patients for blood tests on the grounds that they do not provide a phlebotomy service for GPs.

Minister wants local doctors to take on some roles from hospitals, writes Elaine Loughlin.