ONE of the busiest GP surgeries in Belfast has insisted it has "no plans" to move to a proposed £100 million health hub in the suburbs - after its name was linked to the development.
Elmwood Medical Practice moved to distance itself from the King's Hall project after a private development company, Benmore Octopus, confirmed they had approached Elmwood doctors about a relocation to the 16-acre site.
A spokeswoman for the practice, which has more than 9,000 patients and is based in Dunluce health centre, confirmed that while they attended presentations held by Benmore "some years ago", they had firmly decided against a move.
Last week the Irish News revealed that Benmore had a connection to another firm which bought the premises of a south Belfast surgery near Sandy Row - and then served them with an eviction notice unless they paid double the rent.
Doctors at Kensington Medical Practice refused to sign the tenancy agreement.
Benmore have stressed they will not be evicting the Kensington staff and said it was "standard practice" to quote a rent that was higher than its valuation to "begin negotiations".
A spokeswoman for the family-run Elmwood surgery said they had been contacted by concerned patients following the publication of the Irish News article and wanted to reassure them they will continue to be based at Dunluce.
"The practice has no plans to move to the Kings Hall Complex...(we) decided that it was not in the interest of the practice or their patients to relocate," she said.
She added: "We have recently acquired more accommodation in the Health Centre from the Belfast Trust to enhance their services further. The Health and Social Care Board are working with the Belfast Trust on a project updating the facilities in the Centre. The Practice is also expanding their services in conjunction with the South Belfast Federation."
GPs based in privately-owned buildings in Northern Ireland have their rents reimbursed by the Health and Social Care Board following a valuation by a government agency every three years.
A spokeswoman for the Board confirmed it had been "working with and supporting all GP practices in the Dunluce Health Centre" to ensure the practices have "adequate and appropriate space" for treating patients.
"We would like to reassure patients of the GP practices at Dunluce Health Centre that our priority is to ensure everyone has access to a local GP in Northern Ireland," she said.
