#GPnews: RCGP Northern Ireland urges Government to address the 'general practice crisis'

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GPs told to identify ghost patients every year in ‘disgraceful’ list cleansing drive

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16:30 Elsewhere today, if you are a locum GP, you may be interested to know that we have launched a new Pulse Locum Guide series.

The new series will offer essential advice and tips for locum GPs – including helpful videos on ‘setting your rate’.

Visit the Pulse Locum Guide’s page here

14:45 Pulse’s GP practice list cleansing story has also generated a big stir on social media.

GPC deputy chair Dr Richard Vautrey, who spoke on BBC Radio 4 earlier today about Pulse’s story, has said ‘patients should not be punished for being healthy.’

On @BBCr4today Patients should not be punished for being too well and removed from their practice list inappropriately. We all need GPs
— Richard Vautrey (@rvautrey) July 20, 2016

14:20 Our exclusive story on NHS England’s GP practice list cleansing drive has continued to attract attention from the national press this afternoon.

Pulse’s editor Nigel Praities and news editor Jaimie Kaffash have been doing the rounds today – speaking to the national media about the story.

Pulse editor will be on https://t.co/CWCLxLSkvx pic.twitter.com/saVHGPsCcK
— PulseToday (@pulsetoday) July 20, 2016

12:25 The RCGP in Northern Ireland has also presented an open letter from GPs in the country, urging the Government to take action on the growing crisis in general practice.

RCGPNI reps have presented an open letter from GPs to Health Minister calling for action on general practice crisis pic.twitter.com/7Yhk1mU3iq
— RCGP NI (@rcgp_ni) July 20, 2016

10:55 The BMA has warned that rural GP practices across Northern Ireland are at ‘serious risk of closure’.

The BMA’s Northern Ireland GPC chair, Dr Tom Black, said the Government was sleep-walking towards a crisis in primary care, the BBC reports.

He added that the crisis was developing in Northern Ireland due to workforce and workload issues.

He added: ‘The majority of rural practices in Northern Ireland are at serious risk of closure.

‘This is a matter of urgency to not only rescue general practice, but to ensure that patients in Northern Ireland have a responsive, safe and sustainable general practice service that they know will be there when they need it.’

8:30 Our top story this morning – on NHS England rolling out its list cleansing drive across the whole country – has dominated the national front pages today, leading the front of the Daily Mail and the Mirror, as well as featuring on the Telegraph front page. It also features in the Guardian and the Sun.