Rural GP surgery to close in two weeks

Fairhill Medical Practice in Magherafelt is set to close at the end of October

A GP practice in County Londonderry is to close in two weeks' time, according to the Department of Health (DoH).

More than 2,300 patients are to be transferred from Fairhill Health Centre in Magherafelt to 13 other doctors' surgeries in the surrounding area from 1 November.

The department said the decision to close the practice had been made "despite the best efforts of all parties involved" to keep it running.

Efforts to find a new GP contractor for the town centre location had been unsuccessful, it said.

Patients to receive letter

A statement released by Mid Ulster GP Federation said its members, across 12 practices, would not accept patients being dispersed from Fairhill.

"This decision follows extensive discussions regarding the safety and sustainability of patient care in the area," it continued.

In response to this, on Tuesday evening the department said "practices cannot refuse patients".

A spokesperson continued that it remains willing to engage positively to identify workable outcomes.

"The patients will be dispersed across 13 practices, proportional to the receiving practice size, and an additional payment is being provided to the receiving practices in addition to what they will receive ordinarily under the GMS (general medical services) contract to facilitate new patient reviews."

The department's earlier statement explained: "There are currently 2,334 patients registered at Fairhill Health Centre.

"Patients will be allocated to one of 13 nearby GP surgeries in the Magherafelt and Mid-Ulster areas to ensure that patients continue to have access to a GP, which is a priority for the department."

It is understood patients will shortly receive a letter outlining the move.

The British Medical Association, which represents GPs, has previously warned that dozens of practices in Northern Ireland are at risk of closure.

The British Medical Association has previously warned that dozens of GP practices are at risk of closure

SDLP MLA for Mid Ulster, Patsy McGlone, said it is “as if people were sleepwalking into this situation”.

“I really don’t know how it has come to this,” he said.

“The health professionals knew about this. The department would have known about this. The board would have known about this - and still it happened.

“I’ve already had some people in touch with me.

“They’re concerned about their family, their friends, an elderly relative.

“Who does that person now turn to for GP care?"