Key Summary
- British Medical Association member GP partners have overwhelmingly voted for action during a ballot last week
- The union said this will see GP practices withdrawing some non-funded services
- The union wants the government to renegotiate this year's pay deal
The general practitioners in Northern Ireland have hardened their stand against health minister Mike Nesbitt's decision to impose a financial package that was earlier rejected by them.
This comes amid plans to move healthcare services into the community, where the GPs would play a major role.
Last Friday, almost 80 percent of British Medical Association (BMA) member GP partners took part in a ballot in which 98.7 percent voted in favour of action.
The trade union said this will see GP practices withdrawing some non-funded services as their pleas have fallen on 'deaf ears'.
The head of the British Medical Association's (BMA) General Practice Committee Dr Frances O'Hagan has urged Nesbitt to renegotiate this year's pay deal.
She told the BBC that unless the minister holds talks, they will have to cut down some of the services they are currently providing, which is not part of the contract.
The list includes heart screenings and follow-up investigations done in the hospital.
The BMA had requested an additional £39 per patient per year to improve services.
It also wants to limit daily patient consultations per clinician to the European Union of General Practitioners recommended safe maximum of 25.
The Department of Health (DoH) said it has not yet received details of the planned collective action.
It acknowledged that the primary care system was under stress, but pointed out that the department was facing financial constraints.
