Residents of the coastal village of Carnlough are being asked to share their experiences of local healthcare at a drop-in event at the Carnlough Heritage Hub. The session, organised by the Rural Community Network, aims to gather views on what is working and what needs improvement in primary and community health services.

The village has seen significant changes to its GP provision. The Glens of Antrim Medical Centre opened a surgery on Harbour Road in February 2017, taking on 1,381 patients after a practice in Glenarm closed. The centre initially expected to provide a full-time service in Carnlough but received temporary additional funding for only three years. That funding was extended by one year due to Covid-19, and the practice then funded the full-time service at its own expense for a further year.

The Department of Health has stated that the extra funding was never intended to be permanent and was over and above standard payments based on patient lists. Since 2022, after the centre could no longer cover the costs, surgery hours in Carnlough have been reduced to two mornings per week. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has called for the reinstatement of fully-funded GP services.

Kate Clifford of the Rural Community Network said the Carnlough session is part of a wider project examining how health services are configured in rural Northern Ireland. She noted that remote areas present challenges for both service providers and residents, and that the project will consider issues such as patients having to travel for care and the role of communities in social care.

The drop-in event takes place from 5.30pm to 8pm. Feedback will help shape research and the development of a community action plan.