The report outlines a number of key cross-party recommendations for the Department of Health, including a call for a strategy for general practice, with a focus on removing barriers to access and ensuring all patients are able to get good quality care no matter their location.
 
Ms McAllister has said: “I very much welcome the publication of this report, which just confirms many of the issues within primary care which we as a party have been highlighting for quite some time now.
 
“Almost everyone will have experienced difficulties in accessing GP services right across Northern Ireland, with this all too often leading to late diagnoses or illnesses deteriorating over time, piling yet more pressure onto already overworked hospital staff and putting more patients at risk.
 
“The need for a specific Primary Care Strategy that can be referred to when directing resources in the future, a review into the actual reasoning behind GP contract hand-backs, and the rolling out of more targeted education on the most appropriate avenues of care available, in particular, cannot be overstated.
 
“Many of these measures come with a recommended timeframe for delivery, so it will remain to be seen how many, if any, will come to fruition in a timely manner.
 
“Alliance continues to work constructively with GP representative bodies to understand the needs of the sector and how best to improve primary care for both users and practitioners. We would urge the Health Minister and his department to now carry out proper engagement with GPs in the time ahead, and finally take the action needed to deliver the primary care services people here deserve.”