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Transforming GP Services: North Belfast Federation Prepares for MDT Rollout

Dr Carla Devlin
Dr Carla Devlin (Chair, North Belfast Federation of Family Practices NBFFP)

As Chair of the North Belfast Federation, I am delighted to share some truly exciting developments that will transform how we deliver primary care services. Yesterday, the Federation held a vital Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) Preparation Workshop at Belfast Castle, where all our member practices came together to focus on the next phase of our journey.

But before diving into the details of that session, I want to highlight the major investment announcement that signals a huge step forward for general practice in Northern Ireland.

A Transformational Investment in General Practice

The Department of Health has confirmed a £61 million investment to expand the Primary Care Multi-Disciplinary Team Programme, introducing this approach to five new areas—including North Belfast. This commitment is a significant endorsement of the value of MDTs, which bring together physiotherapists, mental health practitioners, and social workers to work directly within GP practices.

A picture of health Minister Mike Nesbitt with text beside it which reads: “Primary Care MDTs clearly work. They are probably the biggest success story of recent years in transforming our health service. I believe that the MDT Programme, and the close collaboration between Trusts and GP Federations that underpins it, remains the key to stabilising vital Primary Care services in our communities, to ensure they can continue to provide high quality care to people, now and into the future.”

For our patients, this means better access to specialist services without unnecessary delays, ensuring the right care is provided at the right time. For our GPs and practice staff, it means additional support in managing increasing demands, enabling us to focus on the areas where our expertise is most needed.

This expansion builds on the success of the existing MDT model, which has already been either fully or partially implemented in West Belfast, Derry, Down, and the North Down and Ards area. Learning from those areas is key to ensuring that our rollout in North Belfast is as seamless and effective as possible.

Ministerial Visit: Eden Park Medical

This investment was marked by a ministerial visit, where key stakeholders gathered to discuss the future of MDTs and primary care. Representing the North Belfast Federation at this significant event was Dr Simon Hutchinson (Vice Chair NBFFP), supported by Elly McGinn (Operations Manager for NBFFP, EFSU); alongside our partnership colleagues from Belfast Trust Michelle Toland (MDT Programme Manager) Colin McMullan (Interim Director for Adult Community, Older People’s Services and Allied Health Professionals) and Maureen Edwards (Chief Executive, BHSCT) among many others.

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Fleur Anderson, Dr Marion Conway Lead GP Partner at Eden Park Medical Practice, Finance Minister John O’Dowd, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, Secretary of State Hilary Benn, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt, Interim Chief Executive Belfast Trust Maureen Edwards and Vice Chair North Belfast GP Federation Dr Simon Hutchinson pictured at Eden Park Medical Practice, North Belfast.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Fleur Anderson,  Dr Marion Conway Eden Park Medical Practice, Finance Minister John O’Dowd, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, Secretary of State Hilary Benn and Health Minister Mike Nesbitt, Maureen Edwards Chief Executive BHSCT, Dr Simon Hutchinson Vice Chair North Belfast Federation.

 

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt with Eden Medical Practice GPs and Partners.
Dr Simon Hutchinson speaking in his role of Vice Chair on the importance of MDT rollout, partnership working and stabilising member practices.

We are grateful for the chance to contribute to these high-level discussions and reaffirm our commitment to driving forward meaningful change for primary care in North Belfast.

Thanks to Dr Marion Conway, Eden Park Medical and their entire team for hosting this visit at short notice and for showcasing the work and dedication undertaken in practices each and every day.

Dr Marion Conway, Lead GP Partner at Eden Park Medical Practice
Dr Marion Conway, Eden Park Medical speaking on the importance of MDTs and the stabilisation of General Practice
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt with Eden Medical Practice GPs and Partners.
Dr Simon Hutchinson, Dr Marion Conway, Dr Stephen Duffy, Dr Roisin Larkin, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt, Dr Kevin Martin, Dr Mary McLoughlin, Dr Alistair Bell
Fleur taking a selfie with Hilary Benn and a big group of Eden Practice staff behind her
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Fleur Anderson; Michelle Toland MDT Programme Manager BHSCT, Secretary of State Hillary Benn, Dr Simon Hutchinson Vice Chair NBFFP, Elly McGinn Operations Manager NBFFP at EFSU, with GP Partners and Staff from Eden Park Medical Practice

MDT Preparation Workshop: Laying the Groundwork for Success

Recognising the scale of change that this rollout brings, the North Belfast Federation hosted an MDT Preparation Workshop at Belfast Castle yesterday. The purpose of this session was to bring all member practices together to reset, reconnect, and ensure we are fully prepared for a smooth and coordinated implementation.

We were honoured to have an incredible line-up of speakers who provided invaluable insight into the MDT process:

  • Simon Hutchinson, Vice Chair of the North Belfast Federation
  • Michelle Toland, MDT Programme Manager
  • Dr Grainne Bonnar, West Belfast Federation
  • Facilitated by Mary Boyle, Leadership Centre

West Belfast Federation has already implemented their MDT model, and their experience provided us with essential lessons on what works well, the challenges they faced, and how we can apply those learnings to our own rollout.

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North Belfast Member Practices at the NBFFP workshop 5/3/2025
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Dr Simon Hutchinson speaking on the Federation role and structure and the Federation Support Unit
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Michelle Toland speaking on the MDT and the logistics of the upcoming rollout and next steps
Dr Grainne Bonnar speaking on the experience from GP Practice perspective on the MDT implementation

Why This Workshop Was Crucial

Change on this scale requires careful planning, clear communication, and a commitment to collaboration. Yesterday’s workshop was an opportunity to:

✅ Understand the MDT framework – ensuring all member practices are aligned with the process and expectations.
✅ Learn from West Belfast’s experience – identifying best practices and common challenges.
✅ Discuss practical implementation – making sure we are ready to integrate MDT professionals into our teams efficiently.
✅ Strengthen our network – reinforcing collaboration between practices, so that we move forward as a unified Federation.

It was fantastic to see all of our practices engaging in these discussions, asking important questions, and working together to shape the future of primary care in North Belfast.

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Dr Dermot Maguire, Michelle Toland, Dr Simon Hutchinson, Dr Gerry Burns, Dr Peter Boylan, Christine Haughey, Elly McGinn

Next Steps: Preparing for Rollout

With this investment now secured, the North Belfast Federation is committed to ensuring the MDT rollout happens smoothly and effectively. Over the coming weeks and months, we will be working closely with member practices, Belfast Trusty, the Department of Health, and key stakeholders to finalise implementation plans.

Our focus will be on supporting our GP teams through this transition, ensuring they have the resources, guidance, and practical support needed to integrate MDTs into daily practice. We will continue to engage with practices, and provide regular updates as the rollout progresses.

Final Thoughts

This is an incredibly exciting time for primary care in North Belfast. The introduction of MDTs represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve how we deliver care, ensuring our services are more responsive, sustainable, and patient-centred. I want to extend my sincere thanks to everyone who attended yesterday’s workshop and to our fantastic speakers for sharing their expertise. The enthusiasm, collaboration, and dedication shown by our practices reaffirm my belief that we are ready to embrace this change—and that by working together, we can make this a success for both our staff and our patients.

Stay tuned for more updates as we move forward with this transformational programme.

Dr Carla Devlin
Chair, North Belfast Federation

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