The Kells and Connor Medical Practice, which has around 4,000 patients, had its future thrown into doubt after its contractor said it was resigning its contract from April 30. However, Dalriada Urgent Care has now agreed to take it over.

It means the practice will continue to run as normal and patients will not have to be allocated elsewhere.

“This news has come as a relief, not least to the many patients who have contacted me recently expressing concern,” said Ms Mulholland.

“They were worried about many things, including repeat scripts, ongoing medical conditions and prenatal care. They will be comforted to see the situation resolved without any changes needed to their routines but it is also regrettable the undue stress this will have caused patients across the wider Ballymena area.

“I will be meeting the British Medical Association and Royal College of GPs soon to discuss this matter. It is vital we continue the conversations about the capacity of our local healthcare provisions to provide the service people need.

“This shows once again how urgent restoration of the Assembly and Executive is, to enable us to discuss long-term strategic interventions to rebuild our health service.”