Dr Frances O’Hagan, chair of NIGPC (BMA's NI GP committee), said: “This is the first time a sitting Health Minister in Northern Ireland has chosen to impose the GMS contract on GPs, so to say we are shocked and angry at this decision would be an understatement. 

“We have been warning for well over a decade now that general practice cannot continue in the way it has been - trying to meet increasing demand with fewer GPs and insufficient resource, leading to collapse by contract hand backs and closure. Rather than trying to address this imbalance, the Minister seems content with the status quo to continue. All GPs want to do is deliver a service to their patients that meets their needs. The funding we require would not only do that, but it would also provide the level of access they deserve, and we want to give. The contract being imposed by the Minister will not allow us to do that.

“The results of our referendum were extremely clear: 99.6% of GPs do not think the contract offer that is now being imposed is enough to stabilise or save general practice in Northern Ireland. We will now consult with our members to decide the next steps.”