Thousands sign BMA Northern Ireland petition calling on Stormont Health Minister to take action to save general practice

Over 30,000 people have signed a BMA Northern Ireland petition calling on the Northern Ireland Health Minister to address the escalating crisis in General Practice here. The signatures were officially handed in to the Northern Ireland Assembly this week and presented to the floor of the house by the chair of the committee for Health, Paula Bradley. The petition was launched in July after the release of BMA Northern Ireland’s report into the crisis in primary care here which starkly illustrated the pressure GPs are currently under.

The report revealed that 74% of practices across the country say they are struggling and nearly 10% are “barely coping” due to escalating problems such as growing patient list sizes, serious staffing gaps, growing paper work and bureaucracy. Available to sign in GP surgeries across the country over a six-week period, the petition called on the Minister for Health, Michelle O'Neill, to ensure the survival of general practice throughout Northern Ireland by:

• Investing 10% of the Northern Ireland Healthcare budget on a safe, sustainable GP service for patients

• Training more GPs so practices at risk of closure can stay open and meet the needs of patients

• Reducing bureaucracy and improve IT systems so more time can be spent providing care to patients.