Health Minister has expressed concern that the GP contractor who was confirmed to take on Bannview Medical Practice has today withdrawn from the contract.
Minister Michelle O’Neill said: “This is extremely disappointing news and I have asked for an urgent meeting with the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) to ensure that patients continue to receive safe and high quality healthcare.
“The HSCB will continue to manage the practice in the interim period until a new contractor is appointed. No decision has been made to close the practice and the HSCB will be writing to all patients to advise them of the current arrangements.”
The Minister continued: “I am very aware of the challenges facing general practice and I have committed to invest in primary care. The real progress that is being made through increasing GP training place to 111, the ongoing rollout of AskMyGP, the online and phone triage system, and having over 100 practice-based pharmacists in place within general practice shortly, all helps to ease GP workload pressures and attract more doctors into general practice.”
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