AQW 12849/22-27

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 03/06/2024
Answered On Date: 17/06/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail any plans he has to review his Department’s contract with GPs in order to facilitate an easier and simpler method for people to contact their doctor.

Answer:

I recognise that being able to access GP practices when we need to do so is important for all of us.

GPs are independent contractors who contract with the Department to provide primary care services. As independent contractors and clinical professionals, GPs are responsible for making appropriate decisions about the treatment, care and management of individual patients. Decisions about the day to day running of the surgery, including the use of technology, telephony and the appointment system, are determined locally by the GP practice within the constraints of their available workforce.

The GP Access Working Group is overseeing work to develop guidance for practices in the management of patient demand and optimising workflow within practices to maximise efficiency and improve experience for patients. The Group is also considering how technology can help to deliver improvements to the process for accessing services for patients and practices alike.

Under the GMS contract a GP contractor is obliged to deliver services required for the management of patients in the manner determined by the practice in discussion with the patient. The Practice is required to deliver these services within core hours 8am to 6.30, Monday to Friday except Bank Holidays.

As part of the recent negotiations on the GMS contract for 2024/25, my department has developed an NI Contract Assurance Framework (NICAF). The NICAF consists of 6 domains, including one for Access, with a range of indicators in each domain. The intention is that, over time, these domains will develop to provide enhanced assurance over the quality of service being delivered across each domain.