The Northern Ireland general practitioners committee (NIGPC) is a standing committee of the BMA and represents all general practitioners working in Northern Ireland. It considers and acts on matters affecting those engaged in general practice in Northern Ireland, including contractual matters.
Our priorities
The Value of a GP
We need GPs now more than ever.
As patient need soars, general practice is buckling under immense pressure. GPs are leaving the profession at an alarming rate, driven by burnout, unmanageable workloads, and the pull of more attractive careers abroad. Even more concerning, many fully trained GPs remain unemployed or underemployed while communities struggle to access care.
In response, GPC UK has produced The Value of a GP, a comprehensive new report that brings together a robust body of evidence to highlight the irreplaceable role of general practice in the UK.
The report demonstrates the far-reaching impact of GPs, not only on the health and experience of individual patients but on the overall efficiency, sustainability, and economic value of the NHS itself.
General practice is at a pivotal moment. Without bold and immediate action to support and retain GPs, we risk the collapse of a service that underpins the entire NHS.
GMS contract
NIGPC is in formal dispute with the Department of Health in respect of the failure to reach agreement on a GMS contract for 2025/6. The profession voted overwhelmingly to reject the Department’s offer and to move to collective action. A referendum of all GPs was held at the beginning of May. Turn out was 65%. 99.6% voted to reject the contract offer with 89% indicating that they would be prepared to take collective action. A second referendum of GP partner BMA members was held at the end of June. Turn out was 79.4% and 98.7% voted in favour of taking collective action.
Priorities for 2025/26
- To focus on the delivery of core GMS and take collective action as outlined in the range of measures identified – link to section on collective action
- To reach agreement on the outstanding issues raised in the 2025/26 GMS contract negotiations with the Department of Health.
- To increase core funding to stabilise general practice in Northern Ireland
- Indemnity: to secure an indemnity solution for all GPs in Northern Ireland.
- Working safely: safe working should be no more than 25 patient contacts per day, which is widely evidenced in the rest of Europe. Read our guidance.
- Working safely: safe working should be no more than 25 patient contacts per day, which is widely evidenced in the rest of Europe. Read our guidance.
- Premises: Trusts or the Department to take ownership of GP premises and develop an agreed process for the review of service charges including a service level agreement.
Our people
Chair: Frances O’Hagan
Deputy chair: Ciaran Mullan
Dr Ursula Brennan
Dr Jonathan Burns
Dr Conan Castles
Dr James Crothers
Dr Tracey Cruickshanks
Dr Carla Devlin
Dr Joseph Dugan
Dr Molly Kerr
Dr Niamh Lindsay
Dr Donagh Macdonagh
Dr Stuart MacDonald
Dr Donna Mace
Dr Allen McCullough
Dr Laura McDonnell
Dr Arnold McDowell
Dr Michael McKenna
Dr Eimear McLaverty
Dr Paul Gerard Molloy
Dr Conor Moore
Dr Ciaran Mullan
Dr Daniel Murtagh
Dr Frances O'Hagan
Dr Elizabeth Rea
Dr Susan Sproule
Dr Patrick Stirling
Dr Fionnuala Vernon
Dr Naoimh White
GPC (UK) Representative
Chair of Northern Ireland council
Chair/rep of Northern Ireland consultants committee
Chair/rep of Northern Ireland resident doctors committee
Chair/rep of Northern Ireland medical students committee
Chair/rep of Northern Ireland staff, associate specialists and specialty doctors committee
GP Registrars Committee representative
GP Sessional doctors representative
GPC UK NI representative
Non-voting observer from the BDA(NI)
Non-voting observer from the RCGP(NI)
Non-voting co-optees
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Subcommittees
The NIGPC GMS contract negotiating team comprises the chair, deputy chair and one representative from each of the 4 LMCs. Contract negotiating meetings with the Department of Health and SPPG are held monthly.
The role of the NIGPC domestic negotiations team is: to discuss matters of importance at regional level; to provide an impetus for individual LMCs to negotiate for optimum terms; to enhance the LMCs influence in their dealings with the SPPG for the betterment of all GPs in Northern Ireland and to deal with NIGPC business between full committee meetings.
The NIGPC Defence Fund Limited is a company limited by guarantee. The NIGPDF/NIGPC finance subcommittee comprises the chair and deputy chair of NIGPC, the treasurer of NIGPC (who chairs the subcommittee) and the chair and assistant secretary/treasurer of each of the four local medical committees. The subcommittee meets twice a year to look after all aspects of the committee’s finances, in particular: investment of voluntary levy income; LMC accounts and business plans/bids; honoraria payments for NIGPC and LMC officers; honoraria and mileage payments for meeting attendance; Cameron fund; GPDF and NILMC conference.
Our meetings
The NIGPC meets four times a year to discuss the latest issues for GPs in Northern Ireland and to develop policy and strategy. Only members of the NIGPC may participate in votes; however, general practitioners who are BMA members are welcome to attend in a non-voting capacity as part of the BMA committee visitor scheme.
Meeting dates:
- Wednesday 24 September 2025 at 10 am - hybrid at The Mount, Belfast
- Wednesday 28 January 2026 at 10 am – virtual
- Wednesday 22 April 2026 at 10 am – hybrid, at The Mount, Belfast
- Wednesday 17 June 2026 at 10 am – virtual
For more information about NIGPC meetings, email us or call 02890 269666.
How to join
There are many advantages to becoming involved in our committees. You can actively influence BMA policy-making and negotiations, represent your colleagues' voices and develop your leadership skills.
Each committee has a few routes to becoming an elected member. In the case of NIGPC, this is:
- Seats/term - every three years, all LMCs in Northern Ireland elect representatives for a three-session term. Seats are distributed between LMCs in the following proportions:
-
one member from each LMC with a constituency of 50 general practitioners or less; for every additional 50 general practitioners in a constituency, one additional member is elected
-
one additional LMC representative if an existing representative from that area is elected chair of NIGPC
-
one additional sessional GP representative from each LMC.
- Timeline - elections are run by the LMCs and are usually held in April.
- Eligibility - all GPs who are BMA members are eligible to stand in this election if they live in the relevant areas. All GPs can vote in this election.
To join NIGPC via LMCs, contact your local LMC for information on any open elections.
Elections
Elections to NIGPC via LMCs are now closed.
The next elections will take place in 2027.
Get in touch
If you are interested in finding out more about the work of the NIGPC, please email us or call 02890 269666.
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