Mrs Erskine said, “This is good news for the GP service in South East of Fermanagh but isn’t before time. GPs are the first point of contact and their work in providing healthcare must be adequately supported.
Patients and the workforce at Lisnaskea Health Centre have been calling for action for some time, following the closure of other GP surgeries and amalgamation. It was clear the current site was unsustainable.
Patient access to services is important and during the summer I met with the Maple Healthcare group, along with Arlene Foster. We understood their concerns and made our commitment to ensure better accommodation and services available in this part of the district.
It’s important we support GPs through investment in their services, so that they can carry out their roles effectively. With state of the art facilities, such as the development in Lisnaskea it will be a significant step in better service provision.
With an aging GP population, particularly impacting in the West, we need to see the number of places for GP training increased. With currently just over 110 places, we need a change in approach so the new buildings can deliver for patients."
