04-07-2025
GPs in Northern Ireland vote to withdraw non-funded services in 'unprecedented' action
GPs practices have voted for taking the "unprecedented" step of withdrawing some non-funded services in Northern Ireland.
The BMA said 98.7% were in favour of taking collective action "as part of their fight for increased funding for general practice".
As some of the action, GPs would limit daily patient consultations, serve notice on any voluntary activity, and cease completion of unfunded paperwork.
The BMA said these services "do not form part of the current, imposed GMS contract for 2025/2026 but take up a significant amount of time away from patient care".
Dr Frances O'Hagan, chair of BMA's Northern Ireland general practitioners committee, said the result sent a 'clear and unequivocal message' to the health minister.
'This is the first time the GMS contract has been imposed on the GP workforce in Northern Ireland," Dr O'Hagan said.
"Therefore, it should come as no surprise that GP partners have voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking the unprecedented step of collective action to force improvements to the 2025/2026 contract offer and save general practice from all-out collapse.
'We have been warning for well over a decade now that general practice was not being funded to meet the needs of growing patient lists and that failure to act on this would have consequences on patient care."
The BMA said the action would including limiting daily patient consultations.
'If demand for urgent care exceeds safe levels, you may wish to consider directing patients to appropriate alternative settings such as urgent care centres, Phone First, GP out-of-hours, Accident and Emergency, and the Northern Ireland Ambulance service."
It said it would also serve notice on any voluntary activity.
"The focus of this action is to cease any activity that is voluntary, unfunded and non-contractual. Examples of such activity includes non-emergency ambulance ordering (for example for first outpatient attendance) and the ordering of pre-procedural medications or medications used for hospital tests.
"Action could also include serving notice on provision of complex wound and ulcer dressings, where this best undertaken by specialists."
The BMA said GPs would cease completion of unfunded paperwork.
"Examples of action that may be taken includes ceasing to complete paperwork associated with patient registration including dealing with patient eligibility for NHS Services. Action could also include ceasing to complete letters to support for issues such as patient applications for social housing; educational provision in schools; applications to the Home Office; reports for benefits applications."
Dr O'Hagan called on the health minister resume contract negotiations, saying: 'Not one GP who voted in favour of collective action wants to have to go down this road, but they feel they have been left with no choice.
'The minister needs to demonstrate that he values general practice and that he has our backs by coming back to the negotiating table with an improved 2025/2026 contract offer.'
UTV has contacted the Department of Health for a response.
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