Motion: Primary Health Care Services

This Council

Recognises the important role that local GPs play in delivering vital primary care to patients in Fermanagh and Omagh, and across the North.

Expresses concern at the sustained and growing pressures that GPs are facing which are a result of many years of underfunding by the British Government.

Acknowledges that the pressure that GPs are facing have been exasperated by a growing and ageing population and a failure to recruit and retain GPs, which has led to an increased workload for GPs, higher levels of burnout, and the hand back of many GP contracts, particularly in rural areas, including in Fermanagh and Omagh.

Expresses concern at the impact that these pressures are having on patients, including increased waiting times, difficulty in accessing appointments, longer travel distances, and less effective care interventions leading to unmet health needs.

Further expresses the need for a resolution between the Health Minister and GP federations on GP indemnity contracts.

Urges the Minister for Health to re-engage with the GP Federations and come to a speedy and satisfactory resolution which ensures the stability of our GP services.

Welcomes the graduation of 69 graduates from the Magee medical school and the impact these graduates can have on filling vacancies within our health system;

Further welcomes the Allocation of £61 million from the Finance Minister to support the rollout of Multi-Disciplinary Teams in Primary Care, and the confirmation that some of this allocation will be used to progress the rollout of MDTs in the Fermanagh and Omagh area.

And calls on the Minister for Health to ensure that planning for the Workforce Strategy post 2026 is in place, to consider ways to improve the access to GP services for patients, informed by best practice and patient experience, and to provide a timeline for the full rollout of Multi-disciplinary Teams in the Fermanagh and Omagh Council area.