evidence: The challenges facing health and social care in Northern Ireland are significant and multi-faceted. Firstly, the healthcare system must be stabilised, and key to this will be tackling the workforce pressures. The system is losing its most valuable asset at alarming levels. Primary care is the backbone of health care, and it is at breaking point. GPs are handing back their contracts in unprecedented numbers, with a 9% decrease in the number of active GP practices in Northern Ireland from 2014 to 2022.36 Staff are burnt out and feel undervalued, and many have already left. Immediate action must be taken to restore pay parity for nurses, allied health professionals, and other healthcare workers in Northern Ireland as they are the lowest paid in the UK and are yet to be offered a pay uplift for 2023-24.7 Despite demoralisation and frustration, there is enormous willingness among staff to help the healthcare crisis.