To ask the Minister of Health for his assessment of GP numbers, including numbers leaving and entering the profession.

Recent figures from the BSO show that at March 2021, there were 1,410 GPs working in Northern Ireland. This is an increase of 3% on the previous year and an increase of 19% since 2014. However, the number of Whole Time Equivalent GPs has fallen by 8% in the same time period. This is against a backdrop of rising demand for GP services, compounded by the added pressures of COVID-19.

The number of places on the GP Training Programme has already expanded to 111 places, an increase of 71% from 2015 levels.

It is important to ensure the delivery of quality training that will encourage medical students to choose a career in General Practice. I am delighted therefore that the first cohort of medical students has recently entered the Ulster University Medical School.

I am particularly pleased that a feature of the UU’s curriculum is the emphasis on learning in primary care settings.

However, let me be clear that the increase in demand for GP-led services cannot be met solely by increasing the number of GPs. This is only one element of a wider programme of work to help improve the provision of care for patients.

Broadening skills mix with the wider roll-out of Multi-disciplinary Teams and the development of new roles, such as Advanced Nurse Practitioners and General Practice Pharmacists are also crucial.

Members will be aware of the additional announced last week to support general practice. £3.8m will support additional patient care through the winter and up to £1.7m to improve telephony infrastructure and improve accessibility, such as the use of online systems for ordering repeat prescriptions, helping to free up telephone lines and staff time.

In the meantime I want to assure Members that GP practices are open and will continue to provide both face to face appointments and alternative consultation options for patients as appropriate.

It is essential however that we make use of all the tools at our disposal to ensure that we can make best use of the available resources. Primary care is not sustainable unless it continues to transform in order to do this.