Northern Ireland GPs consider mass undated resignations

  GPs in Northern Ireland will be canvassed about the possibility of submitting mass undated resignations if the Government fails to negotiate a rescue package for the profession within six months. The decision by the Northern Ireland local medical committees conference follows a similar one made by an emergency meeting of UK GPs convened in February to discuss the crisis in the profession. It comes as primary care in Northern Ireland faces unprecedented pressures, with 20 practices predicted to close in the coming year due to chronic underinvestment, an ageing workforce and an insufficient number of GP training places. The conference also agreed that the BMA Northern Ireland GPs committee should consider balloting GPs on what work or services must cease in order to reduce workloads to ensure safe and sustainable care for patients, and what further actions GPs could take without breaching their contracts. In addition, GPs backed calls for a public petition and campaign to urge the Northern Ireland Assembly and health minister Simon Hamilton to develop an emergency package of measures to save general practice in the country.   Intolerable strain County Down GP Arnie McDowell told the conference: ‘General practice in Northern Ireland as a whole is under intolerable strain. ‘This petition will be available to sign in every practice across the country and it’s another way to get the engagement we need with the public and the politicians,’ h...
Source: BMA News - Category: UK Health Source Type: news