More than 2,300 patients at GP practice set to be transferred to neighbouring health centres

More than 2,300 patients at a health centre in Magherafelt, which will close next week, are set to be transferred to 11 other medical practices.

The Department of Health recently confirmed that the GP practice at Fairhill Health Centre will proceed with closure on Thursday, October 31.

It comes after the current Fairhill Health Centre GP contractor submitted notice of intention to terminate contract back in July, due to retirement.

That triggered an automatic three month period, where either the practice would close or a new GP contractor agreed to take it over.

The Fairhill contract was advertised in August and expressions of interest sought however no formal applications were received. 

The GP Federation Support Unit did not submit an expression of interest in taking over this practice. 

Having pursued and assessed all feasible options at length, the Department believe that the assignment of patients is the best way to ensure continuity of GP services for those affected patients.

There are currently 2,394 patients registered at Fairhill Health Centre.

Those patients will now be assigned across 11 neighbouring practices . 

Assignments will be proportional to the receiving practice size and as a priority families will be assigned to the same practice.

It is understood an additional payment is being provided to the receiving practices, in addition to what they will receive ordinarily under their contract, to facilitate new patient reviews.

Letters have since issued to patients by post, detailing which of the 11 neighbouring GP surgeries in the Magherafelt and Mid-Ulster areas they will be allocated to with effect from November 1.

Patients of Fairhill Health Centre are being asked to continue to access services there as normal until October 31.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health said: “Significant efforts to find a new GP contractor were made but have proved unsuccessful.

“These included advertising the contract extensively, engaging with the local GP Federation, discussions with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust and the local medical committee.

“Departmental officials have engaged repeatedly in relation to a proposal to build a new health centre in the locality. However, this proposal would have involved public funds being used to either pay rent significantly above market valuation or provide a capital grant to enable a Limited Company to develop and own the new premises. Neither of these options would have been possible under the arrangements for taxpayer-funded support for GP premises development.”