The Department of Health has said work is underway to find new GPs to take over at a medial practice in North Belfast.
On Thursday, it was confirmed that the current partners of Grove Medical Practice on York Road will no longer be providing GP services from 31 December.
The Department said it will be advertising for new GPs to take over this contract from 1 January 2023 and is advising patients to continue to contact Grove Medical Practice as normal.
Read more: Plan to reconfigure how surgeries are carried out in Northern Ireland published
Ulster Unionist representative for North Belfast Julie-Anne Corr-Johnston said: "I can't say this has come as a shock. It's been mooted for some months now that the practice, through no fault of its own, has suffered from an increase in demand, staff shortages and a general shortage of funding. Something that is not reconcilable in the absence of a functioning Executive.
"This news will of course result in widespread panic. Grove Medical Practice has served thousands of North Belfast residents, some with severe and complex medical needs. Needs that have, until now, been met."
She added: "However, the Department of Health will soon advertise for new GP's to take over this contract - effective from January 1st 2023. I will continue to liaise, ask questions and seek reassurances that North Belfast will not lose these GP services altogether.
"I am however, terribly sad that it has come to this. I have the utmost respect and admiration for the GP team at Grove and thank them for the care they have afforded my family and my children over the years."
Local DUP MLA Brian Kingston said: "I have spoken to the Department for Health regarding the following statement. I have asked them to keep me informed of progress in appointing new GPs to take over this contract from 1st January 2023."
One patient told Belfast Live: "No one has been officially told this news, but it's been put on social media. While I am not surprised, this news is bound to make patients nervous and some may even be very frightened."
A DoH spokesperson said: "It is important to emphasise that the practice is still open and that current GPs will remain until the end of the year. Patients who require GP care should continue to contact Grove Medical Practice as normal.
"Work is underway to find GPs to take over the practice. Patients have been written to and should receive correspondence in the coming days. We will continue to keep patients informed of the outcome of this process.
"The Department of Health has continued to invest in the GP workforce and has increased the number of GP trainees by over 70% from 2015 levels with an increased number of GP training places for 2022/23 by 10, which brings the total number in Northern Ireland to an all-time high of 121 training places.
"This will help stabilise our GP workforce and ensure it is sustainable for the future. This is being supplemented by the roll-out of Multi-disciplinary Teams in GP practices which will increase the types of professionals such as mental health specialists, physiotherapists, advanced nurse practitioners, social workers and pharmacist that patients can see in a practice setting."
Last month, Health Minister Robin Swann published a review into general surgery provision in Northern Ireland.
Mr Swann said the plan to reconfigure how surgeries are carried out here will deliver safer and more consistent care for patients.
The review, which was led by consultant surgeon Professor Mark Taylor, has produced a new set of standards that hospitals will be required to meet to continue to provide emergency and planned general surgeries.
The plan envisages greater separation of emergency and elective surgery provision, with different hospitals specialising in the different services. The exercise is part of the wider plan to reshape health delivery in Northern Ireland.
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