Concerns have been raised over the GP out of hours service in South and East Belfast after it was announced it would be significantly reduced.
From Monday, July 19, the out of hours service based at the Knockbreda Health Centre, Saintfield Road, would only be operational for six hours (6pm to midnight) from Monday to Friday and five hours (8am to 1pm) at weekends and bank holidays.
Outside of those hours patients will have to use the facility on the Crumlin Road.
It comes as the out of hours services across Belfast have been running a reduced service for the past few weeks, with patients saying they had been directed to go to A&E when they were closed.
Some patients felt that this was adding to pressures at the A&E department, with some claiming they had to wait for over 10 hours to be seen.
East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson has expressed his disappointment at receiving the news from the Belfast Trust about the service, saying that he was assured by it in March of this year that there was no plans to reduce or remove the South and East out of hours GP.
He said: "Disappointed to receive notice from the Trust that they intend to reduce their South-East Out-of-Hours GP Service throughout the month of July and August.
"I was assured in March of this year, that there were no plans by the Trust to reduce or remove the service from Forster Green. Citing GP pressures, SE patients will have to travel to Crumlin Road Out of Hours service that is usually operational for North / West Belfast patients during the hours outlined below.
"I am due to meet with the Trust shortly and will be raising a number of concerns, including from those who have taken the time to write to me on this issue.
"There continues to be extreme pressures on the A&E service at the Ulster Hospital. I will keep you updated as this progresses, but feel free to get in touch with me if you wish to raise your points."
The Belfast Health and Social Care Trust has been contacted for a comment.
