11/06/2018

£8.8m To Be Invested In GP Services

A total of £8.8million is being invested in GP services in Northern Ireland, the Department of Health has confirmed.

Over half of the funding is to be used for the practice-based pharmacist scheme.

There will be almost 200 pharmacists working at GP practices by the end of this year, according to the department.

A further £1.8m will address "demographic pressures" on practices.

The Department of Health said it brings this year's total investment in GPs and related services to nearly £22m.

Sinn Féin health spokesperson Pat Sheehan said: "Investment in primary care is an important component of transformation set forward by the previous Minister for Health Michelle O'Neill in her Delivering Together plan.

"Improving capacity in general practice, and primary care as a whole, will help deliver more services in the community and enable early intervention and more preventative care that keeps people well for longer.

"Multi-disciplinary teams involving a variety of different health professionals, including practice based pharmacists, are central to addressing the challenges currently facing health system."

(CD/MH)

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