AQW 11230/22-27

Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 02/05/2024
Answered On Date: 17/05/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health, pursuant to AQW 10351/22-27, whether he intends to introduce an out-of-hours GP service at Antrim Area Hospital.

Answer:

In October 2020, my Department published the No More Silos Action Plan which set out 10 key actions to ensure that urgent and emergency care services across primary and secondary care can be maintained and improved in an environment that is safe for patients and for staff.

The work that commenced under No More Silos is now being taken forward as part of the implementation of the Urgent and Emergency Care Review which published in March 2022.

The implementation plan resulting from this review will progress work in relation to the integration of GP Out of Hours services. The plan, which will consider the issues raised during the consultation, will be taken forward with stakeholders to ensure that local and professional issues are considered as part of planning and implementation.

Currently my Department commissions Dalriada Urgent Care (DUC) to provide GP Out of Hours (OOHs) services across the Northern area. DUC have an established GP OOHs base at Antrim Area Hospital. The strategic direction, as noted above, is the integration of GP OOHs, with has a number of potential benefits as outlined in my response to you on 24 April 2024 in relation to AQW 10351/22-27.