AQW 10925/22-27

Mr Eóin Tennyson
Alliance Party
Upper Bann

Tabled Date: 26/04/2024
Answered On Date: 01/05/2024
Priority Written: Yes

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health (i) for an update on the difficulty that patients at Donaghcloney Surgery, Co. Down have had in accessing GP appointments; and (ii) whether any action can be taken to alleviate this pressure.

Answer:

The GP Federation was appointed the new contractor of Donaghcloney Surgery with effect from 01 January 2024.

I recognise that being able to access GP services when we need to do so is important for all of us. GP practices are under significant pressures at present as they deal with immediate demands and the consequences of wider service pressures. As independent contractors, GPs practices manage the day to day running of their practices and must ensure that any decisions made are clinically appropriate for the patient.

Should patients have concerns regarding the services provided by Donaghcloney Surgery, this should be raised with the GP practice itself in the first instance. All practices are required to have a complaint procedure to address any issues raised by patients.

Alternatively, the SPPG Complaints Team can act as an intermediary between a patient and the practice. The SPPG Complaints Team can be contacted for further advice and assistance by e-mail: complaints.sppg@hscni.net, by telephone 028 95363893, by text phone 18001 028 95363893, by calling in person or by writing to the SPPG Complaints Team, 12-22 Linenhall Street, Belfast BT2 8BS.

As part of the 3yearly GMS Practice Visits, Donaghcloney Surgery are due a practice visit at which SPPG colleagues will discuss access with the contract holders and will continue to keep the situation under review.