The future of Rathkeelan House GP Surgery in Crossmaglen has been secured after confirmation that a new contract has been successfully taken over by the Southern Health Trust.
Sinn Féin MLA Aoife Finnegan announced on Tuesday that following sustained lobbying, the GP contract for the surgery has now been taken over, ensuring the continuation of local healthcare services.
“I understand that the transition will be seamless, with no disruption to patient services,” she said.
“This will be a relief to many of my constituents who are patients and reliant on this service for their ongoing healthcare needs.
“I want to pay tribute to the Strategic Planning and Performance Group (SPPG) for ensuring that this vital service will continue uninterrupted, and for their continued commitment to patient care. I will continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide further updates as more information becomes available.”
Concerns over the future of the practice had intensified in recent weeks after it emerged earlier this year that the existing contract, held by siblings Dr Brid and Dr Kevin Allen, would come to an end at the close of August.
The Allen doctors, who have operated the practice since 2016, announced in March that they were handing back the contract to the Southern Health and Social Care Trust’s SPPG, citing financial pressures and rising costs which made the practice “no longer sustainable in its current state.”
Their decision sparked widespread concern in the local community, with fears voiced over a potential loss of GP cover and accusations of a lack of planning from health officials.
At the time, Ms Finnegan warned of “huge uncertainty and distress” for both patients and staff, calling on the Department of Health to urgently put measures in place.
Today’s confirmation of a new provider taking over the contract is expected to bring much-needed reassurance to the Crossmaglen area, where the practice currently employs more than a dozen staff and serves a large patient base.
