The Health and Social Care Board has invested more than £1.9 million in the Southern area since 2018 to improve and increase working spaces in GP practices. A number of GP practices and other healthcare facilities have been under increasing pressure to accommodate patient consultations within limited practice spaces.
This investment, led by the Primary Care Infrastructure Development Team in the Health and Social Care Board and supported by the Southern HSC Trust and GP practices, has resulted in significantly increased capacity for GP consultation space and for services such as physiotherapy, practice based pharmacists, nursing and mental health services as well as for training new GP recruits.
Several practices in the southern area including Newry, Dromore, Warrenpoint and Gilford are already benefiting from the improved facilities with others in the surrounding area due for completion in the next year.
Elaine Hunter, Programme Director for Primary Care Infrastructure Development at Health and Social Care Board, said “Supporting investment in GP practices is a key priority for the Health and Social Care Board. Investment which supports the improvement of GP Practice premises allows a more comprehensive range of services to be delivered closer to where patients live”.
Staff in consulting room of Rathkeeland House Surgery in Crossmaglen
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