Nesbitt rejects suggestion that GPs could charge patients

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has rejected any suggestion that GP's could charge patients

The health minister has expressed regret over his failure to deliver on a promise to increase pay for social care workers earlier this year.

Mike Nesbitt has also rejected any suggestion that GPs could charge patients under a "hybrid model" adding it would not happen "on his watch".

He said the pay move was the "toughest decision of his 18 months" when he went back on the pledge to introduce the real living wage for social care workers on 1 September.

"That is a sign of just how desperate the finances are and how big the gap is between what we have and what we need," he told the Stormont Health Committee.

"Since I have made the announcement officials are telling me that, actually, within the sector - and we know this through monitoring and surveying - the majority of staff, who are of course not employed by us, but are employed by care homes, are already earning on or above the real living wage, but that is of no comfort to the minority who are living below that."

'Not on my watch'

Nesbitt also told MLAs that he is hopeful talks can begin shortly on a new contract for GPs.

He added officials will be engaging with members of the GP committee seeking clarity over the latest offer.

"If things go well we will open a new round of discussions on a new contract," he said.

The minister said he could not go into the detail of his correspondence with the GP committee as the details must remain confidential.

But he added "a small number of GPs are talking about a hybrid model which means some people paying for accessing general practice services, not on my watch".

He said the national health service would remain free at the point of need and said: "I'm not moving off that."

On the financial pressures, the minister said there was still a shortfall of almost £109m in the current pay gap for health workers despite a pledge of £100m from the Executive.

He added much of the funds allocated for the waiting list initiatives was not new money and his department was facing added pressures amounting to £91m.