Clarity sought on future of Fintona GP

A WESTERN Trust takeover of Fintona GP is looking likely if no other contractor can be found before March 31.

Last October it emerged that Fintona Group Practice was handing back its contract for the delivery of General Medical Services, but would continue delivering local GP services until March 31.

As this deadline looms, Sinn Féín Councillor Stephen McCann has appealed for clarity on the future of the Fintona practice stating that the Western Trust needs provide certainty to patients that GP provision will continue at Fintona Surgery beyond March 31.

Cllr McCann said, “Back in October, Fintona Group Practice advised the Strategic Planning and Performance Group (SPPG), that they would be handing back their contract for the delivery of General Medical Services on the 31st March.

“Since then Sinn Féin representatives have been pressing the Department of Health and Western Trust to step in and take steps to ensure the continuity of services beyond this date and into the future and we acknowledge that efforts have been ongoing to secure an alternative contract.

“However, with only a few weeks left, concern is rightfully growing that, as of yet, no new contract has been announced. The Trust therefore needs to assure patients that, if necessary, it will step to ensure this continuity of services.”

Cllr McCann will raise this issue at next week’s Health and Social Care Group meeting within FODC.

“With the Executive now up and running and with a Minister back at the helm we will need to now see additional investment to enable the roll out of multi-disciplinary teams to strengthen our rural GP practices in Fintona, Dromore/Trillick and throughout the Trust area,” he added.