Health Minister Robin Swann has admitted that it is “difficult to retain GPs in rural constituencies” but added that his Department “cannot direct” where surgeries should be located.

Minister Swann was responding to a question by Ulster Unionist MLA Rosemary Barton who asked him if he was aware of the “particular challenges” of recruiting and retaining sufficient numbers of GPs in Fermanagh and South Tyrone.

“There is problem with a shortage of GPs across the country, and I suppose that is felt especially in Fermanagh,” he said.

“However, given the rural nature of the Member's constituency and the prominence of small GP practices that cover large rural communities and populations, I recognise there are particular challenges in the county. I hope the significant increase in GP training places, as well as Magee, will address that,” he said.

Asked if there is specific work that can be done to mitigate those closures in rural areas, Minister Swann replied: “On that question of access to a GP in the rural community, when we look at the mergers of GP practices, we see that GPs are private contractors, so, while we have some input into and interaction with the signposting of patients and on how the best care provision is delivered, we can have an influence but cannot direct GPs on where those services should be.

“It is also about how we expand the multidisciplinary teams into our rural practices, because it is difficult to retain GPs in rural constituencies.

“As I said, it is about how we bring in those other health professionals, like, as I said, physiotherapists, community pharmacists and all the rest of it to make sure the service people are being provided in their GP surgery is one that delivers in a timely fashion,” said Minister Swann.