Foyle MP and SDLP leader Colum Eastwood
He submitted parliamentary questions to the Treasury requesting additional support be made available to GP practices following the increase in employer NICs announced during the budget.
The Treasury has now confirmed that the Executive will receive an additional Barnett allocation above the 2025-26 figure announced during the Autumn Budget as a result of spending on public sector NICs.
Mr Eastwood has called for the additional support to be ring-fenced to support public services and GPs in Northern Ireland.
Said the Foyle MP: “GPs from across Derry have been in touch with me following the announcement that employer national insurance contributions will be increased in the budget last month.
“GPs find themselves in an uncertain environment as a key public service provider operating on contract from the health service. An increase in the NIC burden, combined with years of underinvestment in primary care, could pose a real threat to the sustainability of services in our city but also across the North.
“I have been pressing the Treasury to confirm additional support that can mitigate the impact of the national insurance increase on public service providers. Health services in the North are at breaking point, we can’t heap further pressure on the people at the coal face working to keep people in our communities safe and healthy.
“I am pleased that the Chief Secretary to the Treasury has confirmed to me today that additional resource will be made available to the Executive to mitigate the NIC increase above the level of funding provided to date as a result of the Autumn Budget.
“It is important that Ministers confirm that this this additional support will be ring-fenced by the Executive and will include GP practices to relieve a critical pressure. Our Health Service is in a bad state, addressing that and supporting front line workers must be our most pressing priority right now.”
Tags: