McNulty calls for clarity over south Armagh GP surgeries
SDLP Newry & Armagh MLA Justin McNulty has called on Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt, to urgently break the deadlock with GPs over contract terms.
He also warned that ongoing uncertainty threatens the future of two vital GP practices in South Armagh.
SDLP MLA Justin McNulty said: “There is a very real and growing concern among patients and staff that Maphoner and Rathkeeland GP practices—lifelines for thousands of people in South Armagh—could be left in limbo.
“This is not just an abstract contract dispute. It is about whether a parent in Mullaghbawn can get their child seen by a doctor. Whether an older person in Crossmaglen can renew essential prescriptions. Whether chronic illnesses go unmanaged because local care simply is not there.
“We cannot allow these communities to become collateral damage in a wider system failure. The Department must step up, engage with GP representatives in good faith, and urgently put in place the support and flexibility needed to secure new leadership for these practices.
“Every delay increases the risk that patients will be left without access to local care. South Armagh already faces unique geographic and health challenges—we cannot afford to see our GP services collapse by neglect.
The SDLP is calling for immediate clarity from the Department on what actions it is taking to stabilise services in South Armagh.
In response Mr Nesbitt said: “I cannot quantify how many GPs or surgeries are now beginning to contemplate contract hand-back, but I can tell the Member this: if we had not put the additional £9.5 million in, it is likely that even more would be finding themselves thinking in that direction.”