GPs are warning that free care to under 6s and over 70s will increase waiting times for patients this winter.
A survey of family doctors shows that 90% of GPs feel that patients and doctors have been failed by poor communication between GPs and and the government.
They also think that waiting times will increase over the winter months, according to the report by the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP).
47% of GPs say that their morale is poor or very poor, with three quarters (74%) saying their stress levels are very high.
The research also found that 55% of GPs who tried to recruit a sessional doctor or assistant in the past year were not able to do so.
The ICGP says it has been warning of manpower shortages for a number of years, with many medical trainees and graduates 'attracted by better opportunities outside Ireland'.
Dr Margaret O’Riordan, ICGP Medical Director, said, “research shows that factors, such as work overload, lack of control over work demands and insufficient reward for work volume and complexity are risks for professional burnout. The high prevalence of these risk factors among Irish GPs would suggest that this is a high probability for many.
"Promoting job satisfaction and morale, in addition to addressing issues such as administrative demands, will help to retain the current workforce,” she added.
