Debate contribution: Multidisciplinary Teams in GP Practices: North Belfast
Debate contribution by Mr Gerry Kelly on .
- MLA
- Mr Gerry Kelly
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 21 April 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Adjournment
- Heading
- Multidisciplinary Teams in GP Practices: North Belfast
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5498150
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I think that we will get everybody in agreement here. Although my colleague Carál said that she did not want to go through some of the statistics, it is worth bringing them up. I will go through some of that, but I will keep within your parameters, Mr Deputy Speaker. All Members — not just those who are here — are acutely aware of the need to transform public services. We are talking about North Belfast, but, of course, that is not to ignore the fact that there are other areas of deep deprivation. North Belfast is a particular case. We all want to transform public services to ensure equal access to first-class services such as healthcare. That involves detailed planning and execution by Departments in order to navigate what has become an increasingly difficult budgetary position. We are all very aware of the budgetary situation. However, we have to try our best within that budget. That will continue so long as Westminster funds the North below its evidenced level of need.
MDTs were intended to be a key component of health service transformation. Since the initial launch in 2018, however, the roll-out has been inconsistent, and many areas remain without provision. The practice in question has 10,000 patients, who come from communities that experience many of the health issues that I will cover in a minute. It is a matter of serious concern that North Belfast, with such high levels of deprivation and health inequality, is one such area. The practice has been categorised by the Minister as a "deep end" practice, serving the most socially and economically deprived population. It is often defined as "blanket deprivation", meaning that 44% to 88% of its patients live in the most deprived areas. The need for effective MDTs in North Belfast could not be clearer. For context, it is worth covering some of the disparities. North Belfast is in the top three constituencies in the North when it comes to premature mortality rates, ranking second for males and third for females under the age of 75. In the Oldpark ward, which takes in areas such as the New Lodge, Cliftonville, Oldpark and Ardoyne, the statistics are even more severe. The Oldpark ward has the lowest life expectancy in Belfast for men and the second lowest for women. Suicide rates per 100,000 are 70% higher for Oldpark than the regional average. When we compare standardised death rates for the Oldpark ward against the regional average rates, we see that the treatable mortality rates are 50% higher; the avoidable mortality rate is nearly 100% higher; and the preventable mortality rate is 100% higher. North Belfast consistently scores higher than average in many other categories, including alcohol-related hospital admissions, obesity and low birthweight. Those stark percentages, alongside the trauma and the legacy of the conflict, which Carál spoke about, only reinforce the dire need for the swift and full implementation of an MDT in order to serve the high unmet demand for mental health services and social interventions. The issues that face general practice and patients who are accessing GP services have been well rehearsed in the Chamber. GPs are under increasing pressure, and the implementation of MDTs should serve to alleviate at least some of the pressures on the wider service. However, as noted in the 2024 Audit Office report, a lack of available qualified staff, as others have mentioned, is a key constraint when it comes to the wider roll-out. Added to that is the need for sufficient physical space to house the teams, which, again, has hampered their full establishment. The roll-out in North Belfast would offer mental health practitioners, social workers and physiotherapists, but, due to a lack of space, the practice has been able to take up only 50% of the mental health practitioner allocation. Because of restricted space, it has been unable to provide any rooms for social workers and physiotherapy to date. There have been ongoing discussions with the Department for Communities about a move to Girdwood since May 2019, despite cross-party support. It is essential that that move happens as soon as possible, especially given the wider development of the Girdwood site that is being progressed by Belfast City Council, as, I think, the Minister will know. Ultimately, that has presented challenges that prevent people, some of whom are already experiencing some of the worst health inequalities, from accessing and benefiting from proper healthcare and support. The Minister and the Department frequently and with justification point towards the difficult fiscal position that we are in. However, investment in the service will deliver genuine transformation to health service delivery. It will not only reduce future costs and deliver savings but improve health outcomes. That is where our focus needs to remain. Delivering improved health outcomes is not just for those who can afford to access private healthcare.
810 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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