Local people have rallied together to call for a GP surgery in North Belfast to remain open.
Last week, it was revealed that Flax Medical Centre in Ardoyne handed back its contract to the Department of Health. This means that unless a new GP is secured the practice, which provides health care for over 3,000 people, will close on December 31.
The practice is located in the Flax Centre on Ardoyne Avenue and was established by Dr Tan in the early 1990s and is now led by Dr Monaghan.
Read more: Ardoyne youth club on supporting the area for 50 years
An outdoor public rally took place at the site this afternoon, Friday, November 4, following a well-attended public meeting last Thursday.
Speaking as people from the local community gathered to protest the closure, Cllr Fiona Ferguson who was involved in organising the rally alongside the Ardoyne Association, said: ''The closure of Flax Medical Centre is symptomatic of the wider crisis in GP services because of under investment. Across Belfast and beyond, communities are facing a lose of services because of a lack of GPs.
''This crisis was caused by under-funding and outsourcing by successive local Health Ministers and the Tories, and the people of Ardoyne are the latest victims.
''As we have seen today and throughout the local campaign, this community is not willing to go without their GP and they are fighting back. The Trust and the Department must act swiftly to ensure this surgery stays open.
"And any incoming Minister must reverse the decade long strategy of neoliberal underfunding and cuts.
"This cannot be allowed to happen - especially in an area with high levels of health inequality.
"Even if this isn't your surgery and you won't directly lose out, those 3,000 patients will be dispersed into surgeries in the local area, adding to waiting lists which are already far too high.
"Ardoyne and North Belfast needs more medical services, not less. We know that this can be won and we know public pressure is key."
Sinn Fein MP for North Belfast John Finucane said that "GP services in Ardoyne must be saved.
"It’s incomprehensible that over 3,000 people may lose their local service. This service is vital and people deserve better!," he added.
"We have written to the Department of Health and Belfast Trust urging them to do all they cna to ensure that GP services are retained."
In July, the partners of Grove Medical Practice in North Belfast also announced that they will be unable to provide GP services from the end of this year. New GPs are being sought to take over at the medial practice on York Road from January 1, 2023.
Elsewhere, Ballymena Family Practice has handed back its contracts while the Western Trust recently took over the contract for Dromore and Trillick GP Practice in Co Tyrone, which was under threat following the previous doctor's resignation.
You can sign an online petition to help save the Flax Medical Centre by clicking here.
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