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BBC News NI health correspondent Marie-Louise Connolly reports that GPs in Northern Ireland are expressing anger, disappointment, and feelings of disrespect towards the Department of Health due to an imposed financial contract. This ongoing stalemate has triggered a work to rule, which includes restrictions such as ignoring non-essential paperwork and limiting appointments to 25 per day to ensure patient safety.
Dr. Ciaran Mullan, the deputy chair of the British Medical Association (BMA) NI, has highlighted concerns that this stalemate is negatively impacting patient care. The Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt, acknowledges the situation but cites budget constraints as the reason for not meeting the desired financial requirements for GPs in this fiscal year.
Ann Watt, the director of the think tank Pivotal, described the minister’s stance as “unprecedented” and warned of potential serious implications for patients. The strain between GPs and the Department of Health has escalated over the years due to underfunding, increasing patient complexity, rising bureaucracy, and recruitment challenges within the healthcare workforce.
In response to the healthcare funding issues, the BMA NI requested an additional £80m for the 2025/26 contract, receiving only £1m instead. The public fall-out between GPs and the health minister has led to the imposition of a General Medical Services (GMS) contract on GPs for the first time, sparking further discontent among healthcare professionals.
Despite efforts to address the situation through increased investments in general practice, GPs in Northern Ireland continue to face challenges in attracting new recruits and meeting the demands of patient care. The proposed neighborhood model by the minister aims to reshape the healthcare system, with GPs playing a central role. However, lack of consultation with the BMA regarding their potential role has added to the existing tensions in the negotiation process
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