The  regional development of new Primary Care Multidisciplinary Teams is a central element of ‘Health and Wellbeing 2026: Delivering Together’ for Department of Health in Northern Ireland.

The Primary Care MDT model comprises First Contact Physiotherapy, Senior Social Work Practitioners, Social Work Assistants and Senior Mental Health Practitioners co-located in GP practices. These staff have been embedded within the existing practice teams to provide new enhanced services for patients.

The Ards Primary Care MDT  is a partnership between Ards GP Federation and Belfast Health and Social Care Trust funded by the Department of Health Northern Ireland. The service  commenced in 2019 with First Contact Physiotherapy followed by  Social Work and Mental Health in 2020. The team also comprises enhanced numbers of District Nursing and Health Visiting staff aligned to the GP practices in Ards.

With an aim of not just managing ill-health, but also on a holistic approach to physical, mental and social wellbeing, there is a focus of prevention and early intervention across the team.

Within the West Belfast GP Practices, patients can have rapid access to First Contact services. Practice reception staff are trained as care navigators to direct the patient to the most appropriate professional in a timely manner.  Patients can see First Contact professionals without first needing to see their GP.  

MDT staff also refer inter-professionally in the practice team as appropriate so that required elements of the MDT are wrapped around the patient in a truly holistic way. Only if medical intervention is required will the First Contact staff request GP input. This ensures that the patient is seen by the most appropriate health professional to meet their needs in a timely manner and releases significant pressure on limited GP resource to focus on those patients who most urgently require medical intervention.

There is also a strong emphasis on partnership working with community and voluntary sector organisations providing care in the local community. From 2020-2023 Ards Primary Care MDT as provided £160k for 46 partnership projects co-designed with and delivered in the local community.