Get to Know Us
The Northern GP Federation Support Unit came into existence in 2016 and supports four individual GP Federations - Antrim & Ballymena GP Federation, Causeway GP Federation, East Antrim GP Federation and Mid Ulster GP Federation. The Northern GP Federation Support Unit works collaboratively alongside 66 GP Practices across the province, employing approximately 160 staff across the four Federations.
About Our Team
NFSU is a small, dedicated team supporting the four Northern GP Federations. Our aim is to provide responsive, practical support to all stakeholders. If you are unsure who to contact, please do not hesitate to call or email and we will be happy to help.
While each team member has specific areas of expertise, we work closely together to ensure continuity of support at all times. The profiles below offer guidance on the most appropriate contact for your enquiry.
Meet The Team
Hover over each team member to learn more about their role within NFSU and find the person best suited to assist you.
Provides strategic leadership across the Northern GP Federations, overseeing service delivery, performance, and organisational development. Leads on all business operations, partnerships, and resource management to support high-quality, sustainable primary care services and system-wide improvement.
📩julie.wilson@northernfsu.co.uk
📞02896208333
Julie Wilson
Director of Operation
Leads programme delivery and service development across the Northern Federations, working closely with senior leadership and key stakeholders. Oversees performance monitoring, process improvement, exploring new avenues of funding while supporting strategic planning and ensuring alignment with regional priorities and core service requirements.
📩naomi.hutchinson@northernfsu.co.uk
📞02896208333
Naomi Hutchinson
Business Support Manager
Manages all financial and payroll processes across the Northern Federations, including core and ad hoc projects. Responsible for financial reporting, processing payments and income, and ensuring accurate allocation of resources across Federations.
📞02896208333
Dana Dixon
Finance Officer
Supports delivery of SPPG core services, including business case submissions and post-project evaluations. Acts as the main contact for the regional Accurx contract and leads on the development of the Economies of Scale project for member practices, alongside supporting new initiatives and quarterly working groups.
📩rachael.elliott@northernfsu.co.uk
📞02896208333
Rachael Elliott
Project Coordinator
Leads on the coordination and delivery of the Medical Admin Academies, working closely with stakeholders to support PBL initiatives. Also contributes to the development of new projects and facilitates the planning and delivery of quarterly working group meetings.
📩hannah.wilson@northernfsu.co.uk
📞02896208333
Hannah Wilson
Project Coordinator
Provides comprehensive business and communication support across NFSU, the four Northern Federations, member practices, and wider stakeholders. Responsible for coordinating communications, organising meetings and events, producing minutes, and compiling the quarterly newsletter, as well as providing administrative support to senior staff to include support to our Northern Governance Lead. Maintains and updates record management to include IT, uniforms (where applicable) etc.
📩lucy.mcclure@northernfsu.co.uk
📞02896208333
Lucy McClure
Business Support & Communications Officer
Leads on the coordination and delivery of HR services across the Federations, including policy implementation, compliance, and workforce reporting. Works closely with senior management and regional HR networks to ensure best practice and awareness of employment developments.
📩cathy.christie@northernfsu.co.uk
📞02896208333
Cathy Christie
HR Officer
Supports all HR activities for Federation staff, including recruitment, employee relations, and administration. Plays a key role in maintaining and promoting staff health and wellbeing initiatives and coordinating the annual wellbeing programme.
📞02896208333
Carol Shaw
HR Administrator
Anne Witherow took up her post as NFSU Governance Lead in December 2026. She leads on strengthening governance and risk management across the Northern Federations, including developing Federation specific and corporate risk registers. Anne has also established the NFSU policy on reporting, managing, and learning from incidents, and ensures governance and risk remain key priorities at Executive Board level. She regularly briefs and updates local Federation Boards on governance and risk matters.
📩anne.witherow@northernfsu.co.uk
Anne Witherow
Northern Governance Lead
Provides strategic, clinical and operational leadership for GP based mental health services across the Northern Federation areas. Leading the mental health team, supporting service development and quality improvement, and working closely with GP practices and partner organisations to ensure the delivery of high-quality, person-centred mental health care.
📩sharon.mcvicker@northernfsu.co.uk
📞02896208333
Sharon McVicker
Northern Mental Health Manager
Supporting our communications by helping us enhance our current channels, expand our reach, contribute to the development of our communications strategy, and promote the work of the NFSU.
📩learose.cleland@northernfsu.co.uk
📞02896208333
Lea-Rose Cleland
Social Media & Marketing
Placement Student
Supporting GP practices in developing and embedding Quality Improvement methodologies that help enhance patient care, improve practice processes and share learning across primary care. Working closely with practices and regional QI colleagues, Laura will provide guidance, practical support and access to improvement tools and resources to help practices identify opportunities for positive change
If you would like to learn more about Quality Improvement or discuss opportunities within your practice, Laura would be delighted to hear from you via email
Dr Laura Caul
Northern Quality Improvement Facilitator
Federation Support Unit Executive Team
Meet our Northern Federation Chairs
Dr Windsor Murdock
Non Executive Member
CONTACT
US
Tel. 028 9620 8333
Unit 29, The Courtyard Galgorm Castle Galgorm Ballymena BT42 1HL
info@northernfsu.co.uk
VISIT
US
Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed