Practices in a district of Northern Ireland have issued a stark warning over the impact of a closure within their area.

Six practices have warned the regional government that they also are “in crisis” and that general practice will be “destabilised” if they are expected to take patients from the practice that is closing in South Armagh. 11 GPs at the practices have signed a letter to the Northern Ireland Department of Health warning about the impact of closing the Maphoner Surgery. They are concerned they may have to take the practice’s 5,300 patients and have been told they will be paid £30 a patient to do so. Three of the practices have just one doctor.

The letter states: “We are in agreement that the current proposals will destabilise South Armagh General Practice as a whole. With the negative domino effect on neighbouring surgeries this may result in further practices considering their GMS Contract. South Armagh, as you will be aware is an area of socioeconomic deprivation and such drastic changes to General Medical Services and patient care will inevitably result in a spike of illness and mental health issues. This will also result in loss of income and work related stress for all practice staff during an already worrying cost of living crisis.

They warn that “this is the biggest crisis yet in the Northern Ireland Primary Care arena given the huge patient to doctor ratio involved” and add: “The proposed date for dispersal, if no other suitable solution is found is 30th June 2023. This date is completely unreasonable for already overstretched practices and puts patient safety at risk.”

A statement from the Department of Health said: “We are still in discussions with potential contractors to take over the current contract for Maphoner Surgery from 1 July 2023. Patients of the surgery should continue to contact their practice as normal for their healthcare needs. We would like to reassure patients that in similar situations across Northern Ireland, our staff have worked hard to find solutions and GP services continue to be provided. The department acknowledges the ongoing and significant pressures on GP practices, stemming from the fact that demand for their services is outstripping capacity to provide it. Notwithstanding budgetary pressures, the department is committed to building the GP workforce. We have made significant progress in relation to the number of GPs we train each year.”