To ask the Minister of Health to outline measures to incentivise rural GP practices.

GP practices are coming under increasing pressure in areas where recruitment has traditionally been challenging including those in rural settings. In order to address this issue, my Department have developed the Attract, Recruit and Retain Scheme to promote recruitment in hard to reach areas.

The Attract, Recruit and Retain Scheme aims to support practices in attracting and recruiting new GPs as well as retaining those who join their team. GP practices will be able to apply for a number of packages under the scheme which include:

•A Golden Hello

•Relocation Costs

•Recruitment Costs

•Management Costs

•Reimbursement Costs for applying to the NI Performers List

•Funding for International GPs

Since its establishment in January 2023, 106 GP practices have applied and received approval in principle for funding under the scheme. 65 practices have applied and received final approval for payment in respect of a recruited GP.

GP Practices all receive a Global sum payment as major element of their practice income. Calculation of each practices individual Global Sum amount is weighted for various components. One of these components is rurality. The funding is adjusted to reflect costs associated with delivering GMS services in rural areas for example distance from the nearest A&E, nearest from a city centre and percentage of patients living 3 or more miles away from practice.

The minor injury enhanced service is a service which can be signed up to by rural GP Practices. This service aims to provide a local minor injuries service in rural areas where patients do not have easy access to an existing provider of services (i.e. Accident & Emergency departments