The Southern area (Fermanagh and Omagh) of the Western Health Trust has been included in the next phase of the roll-out of the primary care Multi-disciplinary Teams (MDT) programme.

The announcement was made by Minister for Health, Robin Swann, last week alongside an increase in the number of GP training places.

Enhanced levels

The Primary Care Multi-disciplinary Teams (MDTs) Programme introduces new physiotherapy, social work and mental health roles into general practice, to work alongside enhanced levels of nursing and the existing practice team.

“I hope to soon see the MDT model in place across all of Northern Ireland but, given further roll-out of is dependent on the availability of funding and workforce, it has to be staged.

“The next three proposed GP federations for the MDT programme are North Belfast, South West (Fermanagh & Omagh) and East Antrim – all areas that are hugely deserving of this important programme.”

Independent Councillor Eamon Keenan has campaigned for more doctors and MDT due to the issues he has been working on at Maple Health Care in Lisnaskea.

He welcomed the news, saying: “It’s good news and any improvements have to be welcomed. The roll-out of the MDTs in the Fermanagh area and the extra training places for doctors are two of the things I requested of Minister Swann last August after meeting with the Maple Group, and both should help ease the pressure that our GPs and patients are facing here in Fermanagh.”

Councillor Keenan does hope that funding will be available and after the elections and that health will be prioritised by the incoming Executive.

“Health care must be provided to all and accessible to all as a human right and it should be free at the point of entry from the cradle to the grave.

‘Demanded’

“This I believe is what must be demanded of those in power and this is what the people in a position of power must be working towards providing for the people, not least on securing the budget necessary to progress the roll-out at pace; however, it means that GP Federations and HSC Trusts can now start to work in earnest with the MDT programme team on plans for roll-out in their areas.”

A spokesperson for the Western Health and Social Care Trust (Western Trust) said: “The timescales for roll-out of Primary Care MDTs will be determined by the Department of Health and the Health and Social Care Board who manage the project regionally.

“The Western Trust has worked closely with the South West GP Federation to prepare an implementation plan and that has been submitted to the Department of Health.

‘Direct access’

“The Primary Care MDTs, once established, will provide direct access in a primary care setting to first contact physiotherapists, mental health practitioners and social work practitioners. The plan, once implemented, would see MDT staff based across a number of GP practices.

“The Trust welcomes the Minister’s announcement that the South West GP Federation will be in the next group of Federations to roll out this important development in primary care.”

The DUP’s Deborah Erskine and UUP’s Rosemary Barton, candidates in the upcoming Assembly election, both welcomed the news of the MDT roll-out.