Mr. John D. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the estimated population in the Ards peninsula south of the line between Kircubbin and Portavogie; how many medical doctors have their practices based within this area; what arrangements are made at weekends in this area for a doctor on call service; and whether the size of population meets the criteria for the provision of a additional doctor in this area.
684W
§ Mr. NeedhamThe estimated population of the area based on the Northern Ireland 1981 census is approximately 6,000. Five doctors, two in separate practices in Portaferry and three in one practice in Kircubbin, are based in this area and provide medical services to a total of 10,205 patients. At weekends the doctors in Portaferry share an on-call arrangement with the doctors in Kircubbin. The need for an additional doctor in the area would be a matter for consideration by the Eastern Health and Social Servies Board, having regard to the advice of the statutory medical committee of the Central Services Agency. I understand that the criteria taken into account by the medical committee include not only the population of the area but also the average list size of each doctor and the distribution of practices in the area.