Scathing reaction to plans

Sam Gardiner levelled criticism at the Finance Minster for cutting what he said was an already underfunded health budget.

He added: "The tremendous pressure applied to the health service was bound to have consequences.

"Compared to England the health service has been underfunded to the extent of 600 million and now the Finance Minister is proposing further cuts of 116m.

"Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey, has effected enormous savings in health and the repeated cuts by the Finance Minister are bound to have an impact on services.

"I deplore any cuts to the out of hours provision in an area the size of Craigavon with its own regional hospital. The idea out-of-hours has to be provided from another area seems strange to say the least."

Sinn Fein's John O'Dowd was apprehensive about the cuts, he said: "This proposal is flawed and potentially dangerous. It shows a lack of foresight and commitment to the long-term health needs within the southern area.

"Removing an intrinsic element of the health service and passing it off as an improvement in an attempt to save money is a wrong course and one which could cost the health service much more than it saves.

"I accept that savings have to be made but those savings cannot be made at the expense of patient’s frontline health care."

The DUP's Stephen Moutray had grave concerns of the proposal, he said: “The proposal to have only two doctors for all of Craigavon, Banbridge, Dungannon, Armagh, Newry and Mourne with one based in Dungannon and the other in Newry, will have a detrimental effect on those who take ill within the Craigavon area.

"It is a ludicrous proposal given the fact that Craigavon has the largest population (86,000) out of all the areas listed.”

Dolores Kelly said it was likely other services would feel the impact of the cut.

She said: "Craigavon has a large catchment area and its important people have access to the service.

"The out-of-hours service was introduced to reduce pressure on the Accident and Emergency department.

"And I fear there could be a trade off with people using A&E because of the cuts to the GP out of hours service."