AQW 43360/22-27

Miss Nuala McAllister
Alliance Party
North Belfast

Tabled Date: 26/03/2026
Answered On Date: 23/04/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health for an update on the number of additional hours delivered by GPs that were funded by his Department as part of the winter pressures plan.

Answer:

This winter, the Department commissioned Northern Ireland Local Enhanced Service (NILES) Managing Winter Pressures to provide additional support to General Practice to increase their capacity to meet the anticipated growth in demand over this period.

From 1 November 2025 until the end of March 2026, practices contracted to provide NILES Managing Winter Pressures have delivered an additional 7,026 sessions equating to 91,338 additional patients being seen and cared for during the winter period in General Practice.

There may be an increase in the number of sessions delivered with some late claims from practices anticipated.