Banbridge and Newry GPs referring post-operative care back to hospitals - follows BMA ballot for collective action
GPs in Banbridge have confirmed they are joining a number of Newry surgeries in stopping post-operative care for patients – with many other surgeries across Northern Ireland considering the same move.
The Banbridge Group Surgery said its staff could no longer cope with the pressures of the responsibility and had been doing so in their own hours out of goodwill – but are not funded for the responsibility.
A spokeswoman for one surgery in the Banbridge group said it has 178 appointments per week for 8,000 patients and that typically 40-50 of these are used for post-operative care.
The move came after GPs across NI voted to begin collective action as part of demands for increased funding for general practice, claiming that they are significantly underfunded.
A British Medical Association (BMA) referendum, announced in June, found 98.7% of NI GPs voted to withdraw some non-funded services.
Banbridge GP Surgery issued a public statement this week announcing its move.
In a statement to the News Letter, the surgery said that it has been facing “immense pressures” in this area and that despite repeated requests to the Southern Health and Social Care Trust (SHSCT) for additional support over recent years, “no action has been taken to address the increasing workload”.
It added: “Our nursing team, often working beyond their contracted hours out of goodwill, have gone above and beyond to support these appointments. However, this is neither sustainable nor fair for our highly valued colleagues.
“It is important to emphasise that we are not reducing the work we are contracted and resourced to deliver. Rather, we are withdrawing only the unfunded activity.”
The changes will free up time in the surgery treatment room for primary care investigations and procedures that are directly requested by its GPs, it added. From next Wednesday patients requiring complex dressings can be referred back to SHSCT hospitals, it added.
The Department of Health responded that GPs “must continue to deliver upon their contractual commitments as they take this action and ensure that impact on patients is minimised”.
It added: “Any action that is taken must respect contractual obligations, protect patient safety, and maintain service access.
“The department has written to GPs to remind them of their responsibilities on these issues and will closely monitor adherence to ensure that practices continue to deliver to their contractual requirements.”
However Dr Frances O’Hagan, chair of BMA NI’s GP committee, says that many GP surgeries are no longer able to cope with the pressure of post-operative care.
She told the News Letter: "I know that five or six other GP surgeries in the Newry area have also notified the Trust that they are doing the same and I know that many other surgeries are considering taking the same step.
“Out of goodwill many GP practices will have done this work, including dealing with complex wound dressings, but as it is neither contractual nor funded we have advised them they can return care to the hospital.
GP surgeries are underfunded, she said, as she “strongly urged the department to come back to the negotiating table to resolve the issues around the 2025-26 contract so we can move forward”.
• Do you know of any GP surgeries that are withdrawing services? Please email details to [email protected] in confidence.