Dr Paul Armstrong completes successful year as president of ICGP

Dr Mel Gorman in Longford has written to the Leitrim Observer to extend his congratulations to Carrick-on-Shannon native, Dr Paul Armstrong on completing his year as a very successful president of The Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP).

Dr Armstrong is a native of Main St in Carrick-on-Shannon and is brother of local politician Fiona Armstrong-McGuire and Dr Mary Armstrong (Co Armagh).

The ICGP is the professional body for general practice in Ireland. It has over 2,500 members.
The College's primary aim is to serve the patient and the general practitioner by encouraging and maintaining the highest standards of general medical practice. It is the representative organisation on education, training and standards in general practice.

Dr Armstrong, a GP in the seven-partner practice in the Lifford and Castlefin Primary Care Centres in Co Donegal, served as president of the ICGP from June 2022 to May 2023.

Dr Armstrong qualified form the UCD School of Medicine in 1984 and graduated from the Sligo GP Training Programme in 1988.

He holds several roles besides being a GP in Lifford.

He has been the Medical Officer for the Lifford Community Hospital since 1989, and a Trainer with the Donegal GP Training Programme since 1992.

He has been the Chairman of NoWDOC cooperative since 2001, and Chairman of the Habinteg Housing Association Ireland from 2011 to 2019, a registered social housing provider.

Dr Armstrong contributed to the College in a variety of roles, including: Chair of the Education Committee, Chair of the Quality and Standards Committee, ICGP representative with the UCD Centre for Emergency Medical Science, Representative Irish Health Services Accreditation Dept of Health & Children, Council Member and Executive member.

He has also published papers in the BMJ, IMJ, ICGP Forum Journal and the Family Practice Journal.

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Speaking during his time as president, Dr Armstrong said, “General Practice is the cornerstone of the Irish health service, and this was proven beyond doubt during the Covid-19 pandemic when there was a huge reliance on general practitioners to deliver care and then to deliver vaccines to vulnerable groups.

“GPs showed their flexibility and adaptability at a time of huge pressure on doctors and their staff.”

He also spoke about the challenges that general practitioners face.

“We face the challenges of increased workload with a growing GP shortage, particularly in rural Ireland.

“We urge the Government to recognise these challenges and work with the ICGP to help find innovative solutions to these challenges.”

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Dr Armstrong took over the presidency from Professor Tom O'Dowd, Professor of General Practice in Trinity College, Dublin and a GP in Tallaght, Dublin. He is a native of Croghan in Co Roscommon.

Recently, Dr Padraig McGarry, Longford was president of The Irish Medical Organisation for two years during the Covid crisis. The IMO is a doctors' trade union. Dr McGarry's paternal roots are in Clooncarne Lane, Bornacoola.