HEALTH department officials have agreed to meet with Erne North Councillor Raymond Farrell over concerns for the future of GP surgeries in Fermanagh.

Highlighting a recent vacancy at a surgery in his own constituency, Mr. Farrell says he believes rural areas like Fermanagh could be hardest hit by a worrying decline in GP numbers across Northern Ireland.

“As time goes on, I am becoming increasingly concerned about the future of GP surgeries in Fermanagh,” said Mr. Farrell.

“In my own constituency of Erne North, I am aware of a vacancy in a rural surgery and I certainly hope that this vacancy will be filled to the satisfaction of the patients in this area.

“We have a situation in the county where there are a number of GPs approaching retirement age, people with great experience and reputation in the community and whom I know well.

“It is estimated that Northern Ireland has a 20 per cent shortage of doctors.

“While the number of patients registering on Practice lists increase, we are seeing the numbers of GP surgeries overall decreasing.

“In figures I have from the British Medical Association, it is estimated we need an extra 46 more GPs trained per year in order to meet gaps in the workforce.” According to a spokesman for the Department of Health, GP Practices are not required to inform the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) of vacancies within their Practice. “The only situation where written notification is required is where they wish to terminate the contract with the Board,” he explained, “The Board has been advised by a single-handed Practitioner in County Fermanagh that they will be leaving the Practice on March 31, 2016.

“The Board is currently actively recruiting for this post. The Board is also aware that a GP from a Group Practice in Fermanagh has resigned. The GP Practice has advised that they are actively trying to recruit a new GP.” The spokesman said the department was fully aware of the issues around recruitment and retention within General Practice.

“As a result, under the remit of the Regional Workforce Planning Group, whose role is to take forward the Transforming Your Care (TYC) recommendations relating to workforce issues, a medical workforce planning sub group was established to develop a suite of medical workforce plans, including for General Practice, for the 5-year period 2013/14 to 2018/19,” he said.

“The GP medical workforce group included representatives from the HSCB, NI Medical and Dental Training Agency, NI General Practitioners Committee, Royal College of GPs and the Department. The HSCB is undertaking further work specifically examining potential initiatives aimed at improving the recruitment and retention of trained GPs.

“No final decisions will be taken until the Department has considered the findings of these reviews. Increasing the number of GP trainees would of course require increased funding and any decisions will need to take account of the overall funding position for Health.” Steps are also being taken to encourage medical students to take an interest in general practice.

“The Medical School at Queen’s University, Belfast (QUB) is working to expand the exposure to general practice in the undergraduate curriculum,” said the department’s spokesman, “Evidence shows that such increased exposure encourages students to opt for general practice as a career. The Department is accordingly working with QUB to rebalance the funding used to support undergraduate medical education to provide additional work based placements for undergraduate medical students in primary care settings.

“Departmental Officials would be content to meet with Councillor Farrell to discuss his concerns.”