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Ballymena: GP surgery closures will have 'devastating effect'

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A GP has warned the closure of two surgeries in Ballymena could have a "devastating effect" on neighbouring practices.

The surgeries have indicated that they intend to resign affecting around 7,000 patients.

Dr Susan Sproule, a GP in Ballymena, said taking on the extra patients "dilutes the service" provided.

The Department of Health (DoH) said both practices were offering services as normal.

The two surgeries are among six based in the same health centre in Ballymena.

Dr Sproule, who runs another practice based in the centre, said her practice had not received any extra resources to deal with the potential extra patients.

She said: "When we take on extra patients we're not just talking about GP time, we're talking about other members of the primary care team.

"If we don't have that extra resource it's very hard to provide a safe service."

Dr Susan Sproule
Dr Sproule says she might also have to consider handing back the contract for her own practice

The Department of Health confirmed one of the practices, Ballymena Family Practice, had found no one interested in taking over the running of the surgery.

It means the practice's 3,204 patients will be assigned to 18 neighbouring surgeries when it closes its doors on 1 January 2023.

The department said additional funding would be provided to each practice for every additional patient they take on.

Dr Sproule warned the added pressure on her practice has left her considering if she might also be forced to hand back the contract for her own practice.

"We have to be truthful not only to our profession but to our patients and I think at some point patient safety has to come into this," she said.

"It is fundamental and if we can't provide a safe service we will have no other choice but to possibly hand our own contracts back."

'Unbearable situation'

Across Northern Ireland, the number of GP practices has fallen by just under 9% in eight years according to Department of Health Figures.

Despite the decrease in practices, the number of GPs, excluding locums, has gone up by 20% to 1,419 since 2014.

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Surgeries facing closure

Belfast - Flax Medical Centre, Belfast, County Antrim

  • Handed back their GMS (General Medical Services) Contract with effect from 31 December 2022. DoH say they have advertised the contract and are working towards a new contract holder being in place with effect from 1 January 2023.

Northern - Ballymena Family Practice, Ballymena, County Antrim

  • DoH has confirmed no one has shown interest in taking over running off surgery. Expected to close 1 January 2023

South Eastern - Priory Surgery, Holywood, County Down.

  • The Strategic Planning and Performance Group have initiated a process to find a new contractor to take over the GMS Contract from 1 February 2023

Western, Maple Healthcare Practice, Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh.

  • DoH is in the process of advertising the practice with a view to appointing a new contractor by 1st June 2023.
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Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister is an assembly member for North Antrim, he said patients at the practices are facing an "unbearable situation that cannot be allowed to happen".

"We need to recruit professionals from elsewhere but we also need to discourage professionals leaving the province to go elsewhere," he added.