A number of GP practices in the Causeway locality have expanded their teams to include Multi-disciplinary teams.  MDTs consists of Physiotherapists, Social Workers, Social Work Assistants and Mental Health Practitioners, who work in GP Practices alongside the existing practice teams to provide enhanced access to health and social care services within the GP Practice. Patients registered to a MDT practice are able to book an appointment directly with any of these new services, without first having to see their GP!

MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONERS - General Practice Mental Health Practitioners have joined the multi-disciplinary team within your GP practice. 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, often a few simple things may be all you need to protect your mental wellbeing.

PHYSIOTHERAPISTS - Ballymoney Family Practice now has First Contact Physiotherapy Practitioners available that you can book a direct appointment without seeing your GP first. They are experts in dealing with problems with your joints, muscles and bones such as arthritis, sprains, strains, neck and back pain.Our physiotherapists have advanced training and will be able to diagnose your condition, order tests and prescribe if required and advise on the best management. They can organise further treatment or onward referral to appropriate services.

SOCIAL WORKERS - Social workers can discuss any problems a person has and explore what is important to them.  Social Workers will provide practical advice, help and support in order to address these problems.  Social Workers can refer people onto to groups or services within their local community which can support their needs.  Social Workers seek to improve a person's social well being by promoting their independence, supporting people's social inclusion and helping people to feel safe and well and feel in control of their own lives.  Social Workers can support people through:
   *   isolation or loneliness
  *   relationship difficulties
  *   provide carer support
  *   parenting difficulties
  *   housing difficulties
  *   financial difficulties
  *   stress
  *   bereavement
  *   traumatic life events and abuse
  *   domestic abuse
  *   alcohol, drug and substance abuse

PHARMACIST - Our Practice Pharmacist works as part of our practice team by supporting our patients on all aspects of prescribing and management of their medicines, helping us ensure that our patients get the best from their medicines.

The Practice Pharmacist regularly undertakes medication reviews, updates medicines following your discharge from hospital, counsels patients on their medicines and will see patients in a clinical consultation e.g. those prescribed warfarin or other anti-coagulant drugs.

Our Practice Pharmacist is a source of information for all members of the practice team and for our patients.

 PLEASE ASK A MEMBER OF OUR RECEPTION TEAM FOR FURTHER INFORMATION!