£3.4m to GPs, £4.6m to care home support and new 'sore throat clinic' in chemists as Health Department announces new Winter preparations
A new Winter healthcare package will include £3.4m to help under-pressure GPs.
Other measures include £4.6m to help deliver support in care homes, plus a sore throat clinic to be run by pharmacies across Northern Ireland.
Available for anyone over five years old, the clinic will offer advice, assessment and treatment for sore throats without needing doctor appointments, and is hoped to ease the burden on GPs.
They’re all part of booster packs unveiled for the NHS by Health Minister Mike Nesbitt, who also reminded people that getting Covid and flu vaccines will help aid the care system at a time when demand is expected to spike.
"There is no doubt that the Health and Social Care system is again facing a very difficult winter period,” Mr Nesbitt said.
“More people become sicker, for longer, over the winter months. This is particularly true of our older population."
This year, he said, plans to cope with the Winter spike include “measures to keep the population well in the community, including the use of community pharmacy, and measures to protect primary care”.
“We can all play our part to look after ourselves and support the health service,” he said.
"This can include getting vaccinated if you are eligible, taking sensible steps to stay well, and co-operating with the discharge process if you or a family member are well enough to leave hospital.”
The minister also appealed for the public to be patient with frontline health staff during coming times of high demand.