In a joint letter to the Health Minister, Community Pharmacy NI, the British Medical Association (NI), British Dental Association and Optometry NI have called on the Northern Ireland Executive to make the case to the UK Government for the protection of these vital services from increases in National Insurance Contributions, which risk the collapse of primary care in Northern Ireland.

The increase in national insurance contributions, from 13.8% to 15%, was unveiled as part of the Autumn Budget in October. 

Many of the providers, commissioned to deliver NHS primary care services in Northern Ireland on behalf of the Department of Health, operate as small businesses and are subject to this UK Government policy change.

In a joint statement from the four bodies, said: ‘These services are under extreme financial pressure, resulting in the closure of general practices and community pharmacies, the most rapid shrinkage of NHS Dentistry anywhere in the UK and reduced access to NHS optometry.

‘Without adequate protection from UK Government policy changes, the precarious position of family practitioner services in Northern Ireland will deteriorate further.

‘It is now an urgent imperative for the Northern Ireland Executive to make the case to the UK Government for the protection of primary care or risk the collapse of these vital services in communities across Northern Ireland.'