What happens if all the GP practices in the area close down / hand back contracts?

[Whathappensif]

I've name changed for this as the area info is potentially identifying especially if linked to my other posts. Ive been on here for a number of years.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-65452805

https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2023-05-02/close-to-breaking-point-gps-warn-patient-safety-at-risk-over-practice-closure

This is currently a problem that is coming up in my area. We all know the NHS and the GP practice is in crisis. Currently in Co Armagh, as one practice closes it means that in a very rural area, the other 6 who are already in crisis must take the 5000 patients from that one. If those other 6 close down that leaves 30,000 patients without a GP.

For me, this would be an absolute disaster as I am on many medications (currently over 20 different prescriptions) and can't function without them. I've tried many times. I have a list of conditions as long as my arm. This makes me terrified.

Any ideas on what might happen if the contracts are given back, I live in one of the rural towns that have the other GP practices mentioned. The town's population is less than 2400 people. The next town of similar size is another of those affected by the possible closures,

The nearest big towns (well they have city status but are not massively large compared to many other cities) are Newry and Armagh but GP practices there are also full. This potentially could leave 30.000 people without a GP practice.

Any thoughts about this? Or what might happen?

(I may not reply to this tonight as I am going to sleep now but will pick up any replies in the morning so I am not abandoning the thread)

I have no idea and also living in an area with gp shortages so quite worried about this!

I know a few people who have paid for private gp already

Private GP is not really an option. There is currently one service in the nearby city. Starting from £60 upwards.

The biggest problem with that for me would be that they don't prescribe controlled drugs of which I take several. So my prescriptions would have be stopped if no-one to prescribe it. It's terrifying

There’s no point worrying yourself about this. The NHS would have to find a solution.

I expect it would be like dentistry, more and more practices going private , maybe offering a subscription-type membership to spread
costs

@WorkingItOutAsIGo I understand what you are saying. I have anxiety anyhow.

At this point I won't hold my breath for a solution from NHS as I believe that if we do get an NI assembly to actually sit down and do something that there will be dire cuts in the health budgets as NI assembly needs to save over £800m and one of the biggest areas is Health.

I'll follow up on this thread in the morning.. Night all

Where I live in England, I know of GP practices that have been closed down. Either over bad practice, retirement etc and the practice can't go on. The NHS step in and provide an alternative for patients.

Like dentists I suppose

The local NHS commissioners step in to provide GPs contracted to them to run the service

Theoretically, yes, the NHS has to find patients a surgery. But there's not enough GPs to meet demand. So what they're going to do is, at best, give patients a doctor in name only, because GPs don't have the capacity to see that many patients. And more GPs will quit. All they do is trot out the line "we're training more GPs" but the UK has not trained enough GPs to meet demand in a long time.

Okay cheers all.

I'll update this thread whenever there is an outcome and see what happens as Im sure other areas will be facing the same

Sorry OP it is scary in rural areas. They are trying to do to GPs what they did to dentistry.