Many pensioners are turning up at Emergency Departments with serious conditions because they've waited so long to get treated.
The IMO says the shortage of doctors and beds isn't helping.
Its President, Dr. Ina Kelly, says older people should go their GPs first to get help for their conditions:
"The stress on the health service during that period of time - well, that put people off attending when they didn't feel that maybe they were very ill. However, I know the Irish Medical Organisation has been reiterating all of the time that patients probably should try and make sure to consult with their GP if they're unwell. And I suppose at this stage, they definitely need to get back to arranging their regular GP visits if they have chronic diseases and underlying illnesses."
