Who we are
Get to know the team behind GPCareForAll
and our commitment to primary healthcare
GPCareForAll is a non-profit charitable organisation that is dedicated to providing healthcare services to people living in deprived areas across Ireland.
At the heart of our organisation is a voluntary board of directors, made up of experienced and dedicated volunteers.
Our board of directors
Our board of directors is committed to promoting equity in healthcare access and reducing health disparities across Ireland, they work tirelessly to ensure that our organisation is providing high-quality, comprehensive healthcare services to people who might otherwise have limited access to care.
As leaders in their fields, they bring a wealth of experience to the organisation. Click or tap on each person below to learn more.
Dr Austin O’Carroll
Kevin Kenny
Sile Kelly
Dr Brian Melaugh
Julie Stafford
Marie Cawley
Dr Austin O’Carroll
Dr Austin O Carroll is an inner-city GP since 1997. The focus of his career has been improving access for communities affected by marginalization or deprivation to quality primary healthcare. He founded several initiatives including Safetynet (2007) which provides GP services to over 6000 marginalized patients annually throughout Ireland. He initiated specialised services in several food halls/drop-ins/hostels; GP services for Roma community in two medical centres; a Mobile Health Unit for rough sleepers; a Mobile Health Screening Unit; He was Medical Director from 2007-2017. He also founded GMQ, a primary care programme for homeless people which also specialises in addiction services (including methadone treatment and alcohol and benzodiazepine detoxes), Partnership for Health Equity, a research, education, policy and service delivery collaboration, North Dublin City GP Training programme, the first programme internationally that trains GP’s to work in communities affected by deprivation or marginalization. He also set up the GP service for the McVerry Stabilization Centre in Barrymore House.
In 2022, Dr O’Carroll was presented with the Lord Mayors award for his contribution to Dublin life. Dr O’Carroll was Dublin HSE Covid Lead for the Homeless Population between 2020 and 2022. He completed a Doctorate in ethnographic research into the health service usage behaviours of homeless people. He was a co-founding member of Northdoc. He received the Fiona Bradley Award; the Time & Tide Award for his work with migrants; the Healthcare professional of the Year Award 2015 and was awarded an Honorary membership of the RCPI the Doolin Award 2019; and Gertrude Ronan Award 2019. He was awarded the 5 Star Doctor Award from Wonca Europe in 2020. He participated in 2016 Paralympics in sailing.
Kevin Kenny
Kevin Kenny is currently the chairperson of GPCareForAll. He was was previously the chairperson of Safetynet Primary Care. He has experience of innovation leadership roles in multinational environment, has assessed social entrepreneur projects for a large SE fund, and is currently consulting on the application of data analytics to medical service probity assessment.
Sile Kelly
Síle Kelly is the previous chairperson of GP Care for All. She is a CIMA qualified accountant with 20 years’ experience in the international FMCG sector across all aspects of project development to implementation. She is on the Board of Directors of Safetynet Primary Care.
Dr Brian Melaugh
Dr Brian Melaugh is a lecturer in the Department of Applied Social Studies Maynooth University. Brian has worked extensively in the area of drug practice and drug policy and was CEO of the Ana Liffey Drug Project and chair of UISCE (an organisation that promotes the rights of drug users). He is currently on the Board of Directors of Merchants Quay Ireland.
Julie Stafford
Julie Stafford is the Director of Development, Community and Alumni Relations at NUI Galway. Julie has 20 years’ experience building partnerships and working with donors to deliver impact in community and education.
