Disclaimer
Please note that South Belfast currently does not have a Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) in place. However, we are actively working with the Department of Health to progress the rollout of MDT services in our area. Our goal remains to enhance patient care by expanding access to integrated healthcare professionals, and we will continue to keep our community informed on any developments.
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 West Belfast Primary Care MDT is a partnership between West Belfast 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 West Belfast.
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 West Belfast Primary Care MDT as provided £160k for 46 partnership projects co-designed with and delivered in the local community.
‘Health and Wellbeing 2026: Delivering Together’ set out a direction of travel for health and social care, including a commitment to provide more support in primary care, it is recognised that a ‘one size fits all’ approach is not appropriate, and that the introduction of any model needs to be flexible to meet the needs of local Federation and practice populations.
There are currently 7 Federations with access to the MDT programme, 4 of which are in the Eastern FSU area.
South Belfast Federation continue to press DoH for a funded timeline and for commitment to expansion across all Federation areas through-out Northern Ireland. Current rollout for our area is proposed to commence in 2026 however this is subject to change and funding restrictions.
Relatively new members of the MDT team include First Contact Physiotherapists (FCP), Social Workers (SW) and Senior Mental Health Practitioners (SMHPs). In addition, Health Visitors and District Nursing teams are aligned to individual practices.
Click on each area below to learn more about each element of the MDT Team:
