Responding to the Northern Ireland Health minister's publication of the 'Health and Social Care Reset plan', Dr Alan Stout, chair of BMA's Northern Ireland Council, said:

"This ambitious plan is consistent with every other reform and transformation plan over the last two decades. The Minister is entirely correct that this is a watershed year for the NHS. It is long past time for proper action to save our health and social care services which need whole system change, and ensuring we have staff and resource where we want our patients - close to home.  

"However, none of these ‘commitments’ can be delivered without properly engaging with and valuing our workforce. A ‘new neighbourhood model of care’ simply will not happen without first resolving the dispute with GP partners over the 2025/26 GMS contract as a matter of urgent priority.  

"We look forward to engaging with the Minister on resolving the GP partner dispute on the 2025/26 GMS contract and on the roll-out of this plan."