GPs warn Northern Ireland's primary care faces collapse without urgent funding and reforms

In a paper presented at Parliament Buildings, the Royal College of General Practitioners Northern Ireland warned that primary care is at risk without prompt investment and reform. The document proposes six actions: ensuring continuity of care, increasing practice funding, expanding the workforce, protecting the GP partnership structure, modernising digital and physical facilities, and creating a comprehensive General Practice Strategy.

Chair Ursula Mason emphasized that general practice delivers 90% of patient contacts but is strained by rising demand, complex cases, and a shrinking number of practices. With only 5.4% of health budgets allocated to GP services, 29 practices have already handed back contracts since mid-2022. The college urged the Department of Health to act quickly to prevent further instability and to position general practice as a cornerstone of health-care transformation.