AQW 4019/22-27
Ms Connie Egan
Alliance Party
North Down
Tabled Date: 03/10/2022
Answered On Date: 10/10/2022
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister of Health what community engagement his Department has had with patients of Priory surgery in North Down, in the context of his Department advertising the General Medical Services contract for the practice and the freeze on the movement of GP patients in practices in North Down, Ards and East Belfast.
Answer:
GP Partners at Priory & Springhill Surgery (Holywood/Bangor), have given notice to resign their GMS contract from 1st February 2023. Strategic Planning and Performance Group (SPPG) Officers are currently advertising the Priory/Springhill GMS Contract with a view to finding a new contract holder to take over the practice on 1st February 2023. The SPPG has written to all registered patients at Priory & Springhill Surgery, aged 16 and above, to confirm that the Surgery will remain open until 31st January 2023 whilst the SPPG advertise to find new doctors to take over the practice from 1st February 2023. Patients were advised that there is no need to register with an alternative GP practice. A dedicated SPPG telephone number was provided for patient enquiries SPPG Communications Officers continue to respond to media enquiries and have issued an initial statement to local MLAs, MPs and councilors as well as update statements to the local press. Patients and wider public will be kept updated regarding developments in process of finding replacement contractor to take over the care of patients at Priory & Springhill Surgery from 1st February. A temporary freeze on the free movement of patients in the Holywood, Bangor and East Belfast areas was introduced on 11th August 2022 and remained in place until 31st August 2022, as a temporary short-term measure in response to large numbers of patients from Priory and Springhill Surgery seeking registration at alternative GP practices in these areas. SPPG Officers engaged with patients during this time to provide advice and support as needed.
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