To ask the Minister of Health what action his Department is taking to ensure there is appropriate primary care health provision in the Ards Peninsula, following GP retirements and closures of GP surgeries due to staffing issues.

GP practices are independent contractors and responsibility for replacing doctors who have retired rests with practices themselves. I am aware however that some practices are experiencing difficulties recruiting replacement GPs, particularly in remote areas such as the Ards Peninsula.

I am committed to continuing to work to address the pressures facing GP practices. On 26th September, I announced a £5.5m package of support for GPs. This package provides targeted help to parts of the service that are most under pressure by investing £1m in a new Attract, Recruit, Retain scheme to help attract GPs in hard-to-recruit areas. It also boosts the support team for GP practices who are experiencing difficulty by an additional £680k.

The SPPG and Department of Health are aware of the current issues with the GP workforce and an expert working group is currently undertaking a detailed analysis in order to plan for future required GP training places. This is a complex piece of work as it relates not only to the financial resource required to increase GP training places but also to other constraints such as the number of potential eligible applicants in the medical workforce and the time required to increase capacity in the necessary infrastructure required to provide GP training. All these issues are currently being taken into consideration as a matter of urgency

I would like to confirm that no GP Practices have closed in the Ards Peninsula. The SPPG have previously approved a merger between two practices in the area - Windmill Surgery and Cuan Family Practice - on 1st October 2020. The practice merger was approved in order to increase their resilience and help promote stability.

I recognise that being able to access GP services is very important for people across Northern Ireland. My Department has therefore convened a working group to explore issues around access to services, including how technology can be better used to provide improved access for patients. An initial report from the group is anticipated in the autumn.