UUP brands GP conference decisions “reckless and ill-judged” amid winter pressures

The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) has sharply criticised decisions taken at the weekend’s Local Medical Committees (LMC) conference in Belfast, warning that recent moves by GP leaders risk undermining patient care and destabilising progress in Northern Ireland’s health service.

The conference, held at the Merchant Hotel, has sparked significant political reaction after GPs voted to escalate industrial measures and explore the possibility of moving outside the NHS system.

In a strongly worded statement, a UUP spokesperson said:

“The decisions flowing from the weekend conference of GPs were not only deeply disappointing - they were astonishingly ill-judged.

“As we enter into the winter months, it is now particularly galling to hear a leading Northern Ireland GP talking about ramping up their actions, including looking at the delivery of some of Northern Ireland’s critical vaccination programmes.”

The spokesperson noted that the escalation of actions came just days after Health Minister Mike Nesbitt secured political agreement to deliver a long-awaited pay award for health workers — including a £12 million boost for GPs and practice staff.

They continued:

“This most recent escalation is particularly disappointing given that it is coming barely a week after the Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt, had managed to secure the necessary political agreement to deliver the long-awaited pay award for health workers - including an extra £12m just for GPs and their staff.”

Winter typically represents one of the most challenging periods for health services, with demand rising across primary and secondary care. The UUP warned that the decisions made at the conference could worsen pressures.

“At a time when the entire health service is under unprecedented pressure, the kind of theatrical and grandstanding gesture coming from some GPs and the BMA helps no one - least of all patients. It risks derailing constructive progress just as the Minister was beginning to make real progress to stabilise and reform primary care.”

The statement dismissed concerns about a conference vote expressing no confidence in Minister Nesbitt, saying:

“The Minister won’t be distracted in the very slightest by the vote of confidence in him.”

However, the party said it was deeply troubled by the decision to examine withdrawing from the NHS model entirely.

“What was far more alarming, however, was the vote taken at the same conference to explore moving outside the NHS. Such a proposition from GPs is reckless and utterly disconnected from the needs of the public.

“Our NHS is founded on universal access and free at the point of delivery; GPs openly floating the idea of moving away from it undermines confidence and does nothing to address the very real challenges facing primary care.”

Reaffirming its stance, the UUP insisted no party Health Minister would ever permit the privatisation of GP services in Northern Ireland.

“To be clear, neither the current Ulster Unionist Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt, nor any other Ulster Unionist Health Minister, will allow the privatisation of primary care in Northern Ireland.”

The spokesperson concluded with a call for renewed cooperation:

“The people of Northern Ireland deserve solutions, not stunts. It is time for GP leaders and their representative body to step back from inflammatory gestures and return to serious, responsible engagement. That’s what patients both expect and deserve.”