New Social Work Service for Local GP Practices

Working in Partnership with Newry and District GP Federation, the Southern Trust has appointed five Social Workers to work alongside local GP Practice teams.

This is the latest phase of the ‘Multi-Disciplinary Teams’ (MDT) initiative which aims to promote improved physical health, mental health and social wellbeing in local communities.

This innovative approach involves the appointment of practice-based physiotherapists, mental health practitioners and social workers within GP practices.

A number of First Contact Physiotherapists and Mental Health Practitioners have already been appointed and now Social Workers are joining the teams at Meadowlands and Clanrye Surgeries, Newry and Dr McNiff and Partners at Banbridge Group Surgery.

Through time, all participating GP practices will have these roles within their team.

Welcoming the appointment of the Social Workers to the local practices, Dr Tayo Idowu, Co-Chair Primary Care Multi-Disciplinary Team Project Board said “With growing demand for health and social care and now the challenges of COVID-19, we need to continue to transform the way we deliver care, to meet the needs of local people and to make the best use of our resources.

“The MDT model aims to address any issues that you face at the earliest opportunity, providing access to a range of expert physiotherapists, social workers and mental health practitioners who can provide you with the care, advice and support that you need.”

“This will help GPs to refocus their expertise on patients with more complex issues who require more time – which may prevent many unnecessary hospital referrals and reduce waiting times.”

Social Work, Physiotherapy and Mental Health services are available to patients registered with participating practices and can be accessed directly without seeing your GP