Priorities for primary care in Northern Ireland

Delegates will examine the options for the future configuration of services in the primary care sector - particularly in relation to the creation of multi-disciplinary teams embedded around general practice, and further integration of community services - and the recommendations stemming from the Health Department working group’s review into GP-led primary care services in Northern Ireland; the Expert Panel’s review of health and social care and the Minister’s subsequent delivery report.

Those attending will also consider the priorities for training and maintaining a sustainable workforce - and bring out the latest thinking on establishing suitable infrastructure - which can support the reconfiguration of services with an increased focus on primary care, and which can support improvement in services.

It comes as demand for services comes under pressure from an ageing population, patients with co-morbidities and staff shortages, and follows the release of the BMA’s ‘General Practice in Crisis’ report, and the RCGP’s ‘Delivering Change for General Practice in Northern Ireland’ report into Primary Care in Northern Ireland.