The Causeway GP Federation was set up by local GPs in an environment of increasing workload and a workforce crisis in General Practice. It is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company Limited by Guarantee and registered as ‘Federation of Family Practices Causeway CIC’. It is made up of 18 practices covering over 109,000 patients. Members remain as individual practices but collaborate to develop improved local primary care.
Causeway GP Practices
Ballycastle Medical Practice
Ballymoney Family Practice
Ballymoney Health Centre
Bushmills Medical Centre
Coleraine Health Centre
Dalriada Family Practice
Garvagh Health Centre
Killowen Health Centre
Kilrea Medical Centre
Liffock Surgery
Lodge Health Centre
Mountsandel Surgery
Portrush Medical Centre
Portstewart Medical Practice
Rasharkin Health Centre
The Country Medical Centre
The Family Practice
The Frocess Medical Centre
Dr Johnny Burns
Chair
Dr Martin O'Kane
GP Education Lead &
Executive Member
Dr Paul Martin
MDT Mental Health GP Lead &
Executive Member
Dr Peter Reid
MDT Social Work Lead & Executive Member
Mary McBride
Lead GPP Pharmacist
Donna Campbell
Lead GPP Pharmacist
Susan Gallagher
Practice Manager Education Facilitator
Dr Peter Campbell
MDT Physio GP Lead
& Executive Member
Dr Stephen Bailie
Executive Member
Dr Shauna Fannin
Executive Member
Dr Brian
Connor
Executive Member
Dr Turlough Tracey
Executive Member
Suzanne Kennedy
Consultant First Contact Physiotherapist
Jane Reynolds
Mental Health Manager
Elizabeth Craig
Social Work Lead
General Practice Pharmacists
General Practice Pharmacists (GPPs) work as an integral part of the multi-disciplinary general practice team. In addition to the practice team, the GPP works within and is supported by the local GPP team and NI-wide GPP network. Every GP practice in NI avails of the services of a GPP through membership of the GP Federation. Although GPPs have a well-defined and wide ranging remit, the GPP role within an individual practice can vary according to practice need and priorities but the core elements of the GPP role will be medication review, reconciliation of medicines following discharge / change, prescribing system review and management, chronic disease management with/without prescribing responsibilities, answering queries from patients and other members of healthcare team, formulary and guideline implementation, optimising use of medicines budget, clinical audit.
MDT's (Multi Disciplinary Teams)
Multi-disciplinary teams seek to address any issues that you face at the earliest opportunity, providing access to a range of experts who can provide you with the care, advice and support that you need.
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First Contact Physiotherapists
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Social Workers
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Mental Health Practitioners
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will work alongside the existing practice team to provide enhanced access to health and social care services within a primary care setting. Patients registered to a MDT practice will be able to book an appointment directly with any of these new services, without first having to see their GP. The Mental Health Practitioners are employed by the Federation, while Physio and Social Work are employed by the Trust all working in conjunction together through the MDT model and Causeway Federation Practices. MDT's have been rolled out to the Causeway Federation and we hope this is expanded across all Northern Federations soon.
Education
Our PBL team facilitates training events for all the practices in the Federation on designated days throughout the year and recently throughout the pandemic via zoom. The training and update material is GP practice specific; we aim to deliver true multi-disciplinary training days that delivers to all members of the primary care team, both clinical and non-clinical. Our agenda is driven by the feedback and needs of our practice teams.
Elective Care Services (ECR)
Elective Care Reform services have now been running for the last 4 years. These services, which are Dermatology, Musculoskeletal (MSK), Primary Care Surgical Services (PCSS), Gynaecology and Vasectomy have been structured within a Primary Care setting for GPs to refer into, where GPESs (GPs with Enhanced Skills) manage the individual conditions with initial and review appointments.
Senior Mental Health Practitioner's
There are currently 11 Senior Mental Health Practitioners working across the 18 practices within the Causeway GP Federation, supported by a Primary Care Mental Health Manager. They will work with you to help improve your mental health and wellbeing through early intervention, prevention and management of mental health issues, using a range of approaches to achieve this. Good mental health is just as important as good physical health. One in four people in Northern Ireland will experience problems that negatively affect their mental health. While the things which affect your mental health can be very complex, there are many things that can be done to help support your mental wellbeing.
Social Work
General practice social workers have joined the multidisciplinary team within your GP practice. Your social wellbeing affects how you feel about yourself, how well you function and the overall quality of your life. Issues which affect your social wellbeing may have a significant impact on your physical or mental health. Social workers can discuss any problems you have and explore what is important to you. They will provide you with practical advice, help and support in order to address these problems. Where the social worker feels that you may benefit from other services, they may work with other people or groups in your local community that can support your needs.
First Contact Physiotherapists (FCP)
Our first contact physiotherapists are experts in problems with your joints, muscles and soft tissue (back pain, neck pain, painful joints or sprains and strains). We can: Diagnose your condition, Offer you advice and exercises to manage your condition, Order tests, Prescribe medication, Request x-rays, Refer you to another service if required, Direct you to community based activities . The physiotherapist will give you advice and may provide you with exercises and discuss medication. If they feel you require a course of physiotherapy treatment they can refer you or advise you to self-refer. They will be able to discuss medication that may help you, and may also prescribe some medication.
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The Northern GP Federation Support Unit came into existence in 2016 and supports four individual GP Federations namely:
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Antrim & Ballymena GP Federation
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Causeway GP Federation
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East Antrim GP Federation
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Mid Ulster GP Federation
The Northern GP Federation Support Unit works collaboratively alongside 73 GP Practices across the province, employing approximately 150 staff.
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Federation Support Units provide administrative, project support, finance management, payroll services and HR advise/support to the four Federations within Northern GP Federation Support Unit (NFSU). NFSU is staffed by a small team who are always available to help employees with queries regarding payroll, HR matters or any other query you may have.
