Out of hours GP centres closing

The change will see the service temporarily close its Armagh, South Tyrone and Kilkeel centres until at least the end of August when the move will be reviewed.

The change will see the service centralise base appointments to two locations, Daisy Hill Hospital and Craigavon Area Hospital.

It is understood there has been significant pressure placed on the out of hours service, commonly referred to as the doctor on call, for the past three weeks and, at present, 80 per cent of the GP rota remains unfilled for the rest of the summer.

This shortfall is being addressed by the further deployment of nursing and pharmacy staff working in the service but with the pressures on the service, the contingency plan has been put in place to best manage the service with the staff available.

Typically, the urgent care out of hours service is a telephone service, offering advice and treatment to those patients with urgent medical symptoms that cannot wait until their own GP reopens.

It operates on week days from 6pm to 8am, weekends and bank holidays, through the phone line 028 3839 9201.