Nearly £9 million is to be pumped into general practice in Northern Ireland, it has been announced.

The cash includes £1 million to pay additional indemnity costs and is tied to this year’s general practice contract.

The money means that practices in the region are getting nearly £22 million extra in total in the current financial year.

GP leaders said it was a significant step towards relieving pressure on services in the region. A year ago GPs had signed letters of resignation in protest at the growing crisis in services and political paralysis in the region.

The latest funding was announced by the Northern Ireland Department of Health as regional government remains suspended in the region.

Out of the money, some £4.54 million is for practice-based pharmacists with the aim of having 200 pharmacists working in practices by the end of the year.

It also includes £1.8 million to be allocated for “demographic pressures”, which can include the number of patients with long-term conditions, together with funding for improvement of premises.

British Medical Association chair Dr Tom Black said: “GPs will be particularly happy to see further investment towards demography increases as our population is now living longer and with more complex health needs. This is being felt acutely among working GPs as their numbers continue to dwindle across the country while patient numbers grow.

“The environment for primary care is still an extremely challenging one, yet despite this GPs remain committed as ever to providing the best possible service and level of care for their patients in these circumstances.”

Dr Grainne Doran, chair of the Royal College of GPs in Northern Ireland said: “The College has been working closely with the Department of Health to design the new model of multidisciplinary team working in primary care and funding was recently announced for piloting this.

“Premises investment will be vital to ensure that this new way of working can be rolled-out across the entire region in the long-term so that every patient in NI will benefit from being able to access the right healthcare professional, at the right time, within their own community.”

Dr Doran added: “Today’s investment is therefore welcome – but a full assessment of premises requirements must be carried out for the whole region so that no practices will be left behind.”