Motion: Access to GP Services

“That Fermanagh & Omagh District Council;

-notes the ongoing crisis facing people in accessing GP services

-further notes the negative impact of delays on accessing GP services on patients and communities

-recognises that long standing pressures on GP services existed before the COVID-19 pandemic

-further recognises the pressures have significantly increased due to the pandemic

-is concerned that many communities, particularly rural areas, are at risk of losing their local GP practice due to a lack of long-term workforce planning

-welcomes the first intake of 70 students into the Graduate Entry Medical School in Ulster University Magee

-calls on the Minister of Health to accelerate the roll out of Primary Care Multidisciplinary Teams in GP Practices and to expand on the HSC workforce appeal to recruit and train additional vaccinators to work alongside GPs

-and further calls on the Minister of Health to deliver a robust primary care workforce plan including longer term investment in training places in the Graduate Entry Medical School in Magee”.