A Waterford GP fears that people are sitting at home after suffering strokes and other serious illnesses.
Dermot Nolan believes people are not presenting with serious conditions because of COVID 19.
He is appealing to people to phone their GP if they have any concern.
The Tramore based GP says their practice has been relatively quiet:
"People have got this idea that GP practices are closed for business and not seeing anybody.
"This is the worry, this is what we're afraid of, we think that people are sitting at home with strokes or getting heart attacks and afraid to even contact their GP because they feel we are so overwhelmed by this COVID that we have no time for anything else. That is incorrect."
Dr Nolan says the hospital has noticed it too.
"The Paediatric department, they normally diagnose, unfortunately, one or two children with diabetes every week and they're not seeing any of these kids presenting into the hospital.
"Even some of the surgeons are wondering where are all the appendix and gallbladders, they're not seeing them at the moment.
"The fear is that they are sitting at home and the worry is that in a couple of weeks time the repercussions will see these patients presenting a lot sicker, more unwell with delayed diagnoses and more serious complications of their delayed diagnosis."
Dr Nolan appealed to people who feel the need to see their GP just make the telephone call.
"What we don't want is people walking into the surgery with temperatures, coughs and colds and with suspect COVID disease because that puts other patients and the practice staff at risk.
"But, if you need to see your GP, please make contact because we are there to help at this particular time.
"If people are unwell, they need to be seen in the surgery so please make contact with your GP, a lot of this stuff can be dealt with over the phone but, please don't suffer in silence."
