Dr Tom Black said there were fewer GPs per head of population in NI now than in the 1950s

The British Medical Association’s general practitioners committee have held a series of meetings throughout Northern Ireland at which the overwhelming majority of GPs who attended said they are willing to begin the process of leaving the health service.

According to BMA’s Dr Tom Black there are fewer GPs in Northern Ireland per head of the population than there were in the 1950s.

He told Radio Ulster’s Talkback that GPs were faced with “huge workloads” and funding shortages.

Sign up to our daily newsletter The i newsletter cut through the noise Sign up Thanks for signing up! Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting...

With the situation critical, GPs may be left with no alternative than to break away from the NHS and begin charging patients.

Meetings have taken place in Belfast, Londonderry, Armagh and Enniskillen, and another is scheduled for Tuesday in Templepatrick.