Have say on the future development of GP Out-of-Hours Services

Local people are being invited to have their say in the Health and Social Care Board’s public consultation on the future provision of GP Out-of-Hours services across Northern Ireland.

Representatives from the Health and Social Care Board and the Northern Local Commissioning Group will facilitate the public meetings. Details of the meeting in the Northern area are as follows:-

4th September 2012 at 6.30 pm, Ballymena Showgrounds, Warden Street, Ballymena, BT43 7DR

John Compton, Chief Executive at the Health and Social Care Board, said: “We are inviting local people to come along to these consultation meetings in order to ask questions and give their views on the GP Out-of-Hours Strategic Framework. We have organised a number of meetings across Northern Ireland to gauge people’s views and want to reach as many people as we can before the consultation period ends on 28 September 2012.

“As a first point of contact for the public, GP Out-of-Hours Services provide urgent advice, care and treatment at times when GP surgeries are closed. Significant improvements have already been implemented in relation to processes, commissioning and quality standards for service delivery. The Strategic Framework complements and enhances this work and provides further opportunities to improve services.

“It is vital that local people have their say on the Framework and ask any questions they have on the developments outlined for the future. These public meetings enable the public and key stakeholders to contribute their views to the future design and configuration of GP Out-of-Hours Services. Everyone is welcome so please come along, find out more and have your say.”

The consultation which began on Monday 25 June will end on Friday 28 September 2012. The consultation documentation can be accessed in the Consultations section of the www.hscboard.hscni.net website. Alternatively the documentation can be requested by email at [email protected].

Members of the public who have any special requirements which enable attendance at these meetings eg a sign language interpreter should notify the HSCB in advance by telephone on 028 9055 3721 or textphone on 18001 028 9055 3721.