The Antrim Ballymena 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 Antrim and Ballymena CIC’. It is made up of 26 practices covering over 130,000 patients. Members remain as individual practices but collaborate to develop improved local primary care.
Antrim Ballymena GP Practices
Crumlin Medical
Maine Medical Ahoghill
Brenaghmore Medical
Antrim Castle Surgery
Oriel Surgery
Cullybackey Health Centre
The Gables Medical Centre
Braid View Medical Practice
Ballymena Family Practice
Broughshane Medical Practice
Portglenone H/C
Seven Towers Practice
Smithfield Medical Centre
Kells & Connor Medical Centre
The Family Practice Antrim
Antrim Health Centre
Maine Medical Cullybackey
Antrim Health Centre
Toome Surgery
Randalstown Medical Practice
Glens of Antrim
Rockfield Medical Ballymena
Old Bank Surgery
Dr Alan Lewis
Chair
Dr Allen McCullough
Treasurer
Dr John Goodrich
Secretary and Educational Lead
Dr Susan Sproule
GPP GP Lead
Aislinn McCarry
Lead General Practice Pharmacist
Lyndsey Alexander
Lead General Practice Pharmacist
Maternity Cover
Joanne Caldwell
Lead General Practice Pharmacist
Anne Witherow
Lead Nurse
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.
Trainee General Practice Nursing
Within GP nursing services, the Federation employs nurses undergoing a range of training programmes including the Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) programme, non-medical prescription and General Practice Nurse (GNP) programmes.
These programmes run in partnership with the University of Ulster and on successful completion, the nurses remain as GP Federation employees based within GP practices
Education
Dr Goodrich is our Educational GP Lead. Dr Goodrich 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.
Education
Dr Goodrich is our Educational GP Lead. Dr Goodrich 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.
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.