£15m To Be Invested In GP Services

£15 million is to be invested in GP services across Northern Ireland.

Health Minister, Jim Wells, made the announcement during a visit to a GP surgery in Carryduff.

Minister Wells said: "GPs across Northern Ireland provide a high standard of care to their patients. But I fully recognise the challenges faced by General Practice in meeting rising demand for appointments and services.

"GPs play a pivotal role in delivering care closer to home, where it is safe and sensible to do so. This package of investment will help to address some of the current difficulties and plan for future challenges in General Practice."

The package includes:

• Up to £3.1 million of investment in Out Of Hours GP services.

• Up to £1.2 million of investment helping GPs meet demand for blood tests and other diagnostic work in the community delivered through GP Federations.

• Up to £300,000 to recruit and retain GPs.

• Releasing up to £10 million of funding for GP Practices to borrow to upgrade and expand their premises and £350,000 to meet the ongoing costs of these new premises.

(CD)