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Multi-disciplinary Teams in GP practices
Multi-disciplinary Teams (MDTs) are a key priority within the Health and Social Care transformation programme.
It involves the recruitment of the following specialist staff to work alongside GPs and practice staff:
This means patients can see different specialists within the GP practice, reducing the need for referrals and appointments elsewhere.
MDTs help meet the social, physical and mental health wellbeing needs of the local population while providing care closer to people’s homes.
The roll out of the MDTs began in 2018 with GP Federations in Down and Derry/Londonderry as the first to pilot the new model. 2019/20 and 2020/21 brought further expansion of the model into West Belfast, Causeway, Newry and District, North Down and Ards Federation.
Investment in MDT staff for 2024-25 is approximately £25.6m per annum, providing patient-focused, accessible care to a population of about 760,000.
£61m has been secured from the Public Sector Transformation Programme to fund the further implementation of the MDT Programme. The Health Minister Mike Nesbit has launched the MDT Implementation Plan to deliver the rollout of MDTs across all 17 Federations over the next 8 years (2025/26-2032/33).
| 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 | |
| Number of practices with access to MDT | 74 | 75 | 99 | 112 | 115 | 116 |
| Number of staff (whole time equivalent) | 164 | 232 | 322 | 371 | 370 | 360 |
| Investment in staff | £9.2m | £13.5m | £17.5m | £18.78 | £20.85m | £25.6m |
MDT printable leaflets can be found on the Department of Health (DoH) website: Primary Care Multi-disciplinary teams (MDTs) | Department of Health (health-ni.gov.uk)