To ask the Minister of Health whether there are any plans to increase the number of face to face GP consultations.

GP practices are open and will continue to provide both face to face appointments and alternative consultation options for patients as appropriate.

The general practice telephone first consultations allow patients to seek timely medical advice from their GP for both routine and urgent problems. The GP determines the most appropriate approach to safely addressing the patient’s needs using their clinical expertise. Where a face to face appointment is appropriate, that will be arranged. Alternatively, the GP may decide, based on their clinical assessment, that a telephone consultation is appropriate or that the patient should be signposted or directed to other relevant services.

This approach helps the GP to appropriately manage, treat and support the large number of us who seek clinical support and advice from our primary care practitioners. It has allowed practices to maintain the majority of GP services and has enabled GPs to appropriately manage, treat and support a greater number of people than would otherwise have been the case. With the level of pressure on the service continuing to rise, the use of telephone consultations are an important part of how GPs can treat and support the large number of patients who need their services. With figures in 2019 indicating patient contacts were almost 15 million per year up from an estimated 12.7 million in 2014, it was clear that GP-led services could not continue to meet rising demand and expectations without urgent action to address the pressures facing the service.

In recognition of the increasing demand for primary care services, the Department has continued to invest in our GP workforce and has increased the number of GP trainees by over 70% from 2015 levels. Work has also recently commenced on a review of GP trainee places, to make sure there are enough GPs to meet our primary care needs into the future.

It is important to note however that the increase in demand for primary care services cannot be met solely by increasing the number of GPs. Rather this is part of a wider programme of work to help improve patient access to services in primary care. Other elements include the wider roll-out of primary care Multi-disciplinary Teams as well as the introduction of Advanced Nurse Practitioners and additional General Practice Nurses, all of which are making a difference to how services are delivered in primary care and contributing to improved patient outcomes.

Investment in technology, including telephony, is also assisting General Practice to meet growing demand. Primary Care’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the implementation of new and innovative ways of working, including making greater use of technology and telephony, both of which have helped General Practice, along with all other areas within the health and social care system, to react quickly and adapt flexibly to the demands and challenges of the pandemic. Further urgent work with GPs and the Health and Social Care Board is underway to explore how telephony can be better used to support the service.

It is important to emphasise again that if people have symptoms or an unexplained illness or have any reason to be concerned, they should in the first instance contact their GP who will be able to provide advice. GPs want anyone who has a health concern to feel reassured that they will be able to get an appointment and see a GP if necessary.