Unsafe to move patients from closing surgery, GPs say

Transferring more than 2,300 patients from Fairhill Health Centre in Magherafelt in County Londonderry is unsafe, GPs have said.

On Friday about 2,000-2,500 patients will be dispersed amongst 13 practices in the surrounding area after the Department of Health said efforts to find a new GP contractor for Fairhill, which is based in Magherafelt town centre, had been unsuccessful.

Dr John Diamond, a GP at Garden Street Surgery in Magherafelt and Bellaghy Medical Centre, said none of the practices had received any information about the patients being transferred.

The Department of Health (DoH) said the practices were notified a week ago "at the earliest opportunity" and patient lists had been shared with them.

A spokesperson added that officials had been in this week with the practices to respond to queries and ensure "as smooth a transition as possible for both patients and practices".

"None of the practices have received any notes - we just have a list of names - so as of Friday we have no idea if any of these patients are palliative care - if they are housebound - if they have complex needs - we don't know their medications," Dr Diamond said.

“It's so unsafe - and we really are frustrated with the board - because they did not meet local practices to try to do this in a safe and manageable way.”

The DoH said it understood the concern and disappointment of patients at the closure of Fairhill but that moving patients to other GP surgeries was "the only feasible option".

A spokesperson added that the practices taking patients in would receive extra funding to the istrative tasks involved in receiving the records of their new patients.

They said "all options were explored and exhausted" in trying to keep Fairhill open.