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Causeway GP Federation Newsletter January 2025



A note from the Chair - Dr Johnny Burns


Colleagues,


I hope this newsletter finds you well. As a Federation, we continue to strive to support practices during these challenging times, particularly given the significant pressures facing our NHS.


Workforce challenges persist both at the practice level and within the Federation. We continue to progress recruitment for various roles, including GPPs, to ensure we can offer the best support to practices, within the limits of available funding. Work is also ongoing on the GPP plan and development regionally, and we remain keen to see this implemented.


Our MDTs and GPPs continue to work tirelessly in practices, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their dedication. There are positive indications regarding transformation funding, and we look forward to seeing the completion of our MDT service as the next stage of the rollout.


Elective care work has been reduced in capacity despite our best efforts to advocate for its continuation. This is hugely disappointing for those involved, and the budget has been agreed at 50% until the end of the financial year. We will continue to push for the restoration of sessions as soon as possible, and I believe a decision on this is pending.

The team continues to develop and progress cost-saving initiatives, which will be shared via Practice Managers. At a time when finances are under pressure, I hope this will be helpful.


From all of the FSU Team, we are grateful for your support and patience as we work to support both practices and patients.


See below a flyer for the new Surgical Ambulatory Service in Causeway.

Following a recent NIGPC meeting, it was noted that several other Federations have circulated lists of unfunded, non-contractual work commonly undertaken by practices.


This work can be stopped at your discretion. This is separate from any potential collective action, which may arise in April if there is no progress on the new contract for 2025/26.


Many thanks,

Johnny.

 

Unfunded / Non-Contractual Work within General Practice


A Practice from within another Federation area kindly shared the following document with us.  This document highlights different activities carried out within Practices that they do not receive funding for, the impact on for Practices and possible considerations moving forward.  You may find it useful to review and use a point of discussion within your own Practice. 

 

Encompass/Epic Transition


The Encompass query form remains active on our website, the queries submitted are being sent daily to the NHSCT Encompass Command Centre for processing. They are currently developing a regional form, and once that is completed, the current form will be deactivated.

 

In the meantime, the queries are being received and processed by the Trust. However, we do not have control over the time it takes for them to address each query.

 

MDT - Senior Mental Health Practitioners

Joanne Hamilton - Deputy Mental Health Manager


I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all the SMHPs for their support during my transition to Deputy Mental Health Manager. It is truly a huge honour, and I feel incredibly privileged to step into this role, allowing me to support the SMHP Team from a leadership perspective.

 

We’re excited to kick off the year with our first professional development session, facilitated by Shauneen O’Connor, Towards Zero Suicide Service Improvement Manager. As you may know, suicide is the leading cause of death in individuals under 40 in Northern Ireland, making our work in mental health more crucial than ever. The Towards Zero Suicide initiative is part of the broader suicide prevention efforts under the Protected Life Strategy. This training promotes a culture focused more on prevention rather than simply prediction. We continue to use the Collaborative Safety Planning Model, a therapeutic intervention designed to support our mission of safeguarding our patients' well-being.


 

Ballymoney Family Practice recently hosted a special event celebrating the exceptional work of our Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT)!

We were truly delighted to welcome the Minister, who took the time to discuss the vital role of the Senior Mental Health Practitioner (SMHP). The Health Minister, Mr Mike Nesbitt, acknowledged the demands of this role and provided invaluable feedback, highlighting how pivotal and well-recognised mental health care is within primary care. This recognition was immensely appreciated by our staff, filling us  with a great sense of job satisfaction and boosting team morale! We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Minister for showing genuine interest in and appreciation for the services we provide. It’s moments like these that reaffirm our commitment to delivering top-notch mental health care to our community.


 

As we all know, the lead-up to Christmas can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming. But fear not! Louise McKechnie (SMHP) and Adam Wilson (Physiotherapist) pulled together a fab staff breakfast party to help the team all gear up for the festive season with the ‘5 Steps to Christmas Well Being’ initiative! They provided a delightful breakfast and played some super fun team-building games. It was a fantastic way to laugh, connect, and spread some holiday cheer. In addition to this festive fun, I would like to acknowledge the great work that Ballymoney Family Practice has done in the promotion of positive mental health, congratulations to the appointment of their two amazing Mental Health Champions from their reception team: Amy and Janice.

 

Furthermore, a huge Congratulations to Siobhan Bradley and family on the birth of their baby girl Beth! We all look forward to meeting the new bundle of joy.


 

MDT - First Contact Physiotherapists

Suzanne Kennedy - Consultant Physiotherapist


Happy New Year, Everyone!


🥳 Five Years of First Contact Physiotherapy!

January 2025 marks five years since First Contact Physiotherapists (FCPs) became part of GP practices within the Causeway Federation. Where has the time gone?! It’s been an incredible journey of growth and learning, and as healthcare continues to evolve, we will keep developing and adapting over the next five years.

Staffing has remained fairly stable, with only a small turnover, and we patiently await further funding to support the continued rollout of FCPs across the Northern Federation.


📊 Five Years in Numbers

📍 33,927 patients seen

📍 105,847 consultations carried out

📍 Most frequent age group seen: 55–65 years

📍 Most common conditions: back & neck pain, followed by knee & shoulder pain

📍 80% of patients managed within primary care

📍 Exercise, pain management & advice are the most common interventions


 

👏 FCP Representation

Huge thanks to Adam Wilson for representing FCP and speaking so positively during the Health Minister’s visit to Ballymoney Family Practice on 6th November 2024.


 

On 12th November, Suzanne Kennedy represented FCP at the All-Ireland Shared Learning Event in Dundalk on Advanced Practice. This well-attended event highlighted the advanced training and skills of FCP practitioners in Northern Ireland.


🔄 Embracing Change

November also brought challenges, with Encompass going live in the Northern Trust. Staff have completed training and now have access via Epic Care Link, but as with any new system, it will take time to fully integrate and become familiar with it.


👶 A Special Congratulations!

Huge congratulations to Ethan and his wife on the birth of their baby daughter, Rosie, on Thursday 9th January 2025! Mum and baby are doing well, and we wish Ethan some much-needed sleep during his two weeks of paternity leave! 😴


 

MDT - Social Work

Elizabeth Craig - Social Work Lead

 

👋 Welcome to Our New Senior Social Workers!


We are delighted to welcome three new Senior Social Workers to our team:

🔹Jolene Keane – Working four days per week in Ballymoney Family Practice.

🔹 Naomi Crutchley – Based at Garvagh Health Centre (four days per week). From February, she will split her time between Garvagh (three days) and Liffock Surgery, Castlerock (one day per week). This marks the first time Social Work services have been provided in Castlerock since the inception of Causeway MDT.

🔹 Emma Campbell – Recently joined the Frocess Medical Practice, working two and a half days per week. Another first for Social Work and a very welcome addition!


We continue to advocate for Social Work staff across the entire Federation.


👥 Expanding Community Support & Initiatives

Our Carers Support Group in Coleraine continues to thrive and is now available to all patients across the Causeway GP Federation. This monthly group provides valuable support, resources, and updates on local services.


Several other successful projects are making a real impact across the Federation:


🏡 Riverside & Killowen Surgeries:

🔸 AC/DC Dementia Choir – Run in partnership with Age Concern.

🔸 Dementia Location Wristbands – Providing added security for individuals with dementia.

🔸 Chatty Chicks – A support group for isolated women, particularly those new to the area.

🔸 MEMEs (Men’s Mental Health Group) – A thriving support initiative open to all in the Federation.


🚂 Chatty Carriage:

🔹 This unique initiative continues to gain momentum, with two successful journeys in Autumn 2024. The next trip is scheduled for February 2025, offering a social opportunity for older and isolated individuals.


🏋️ Lodge Medical Centre:

🔸 Strength & Balance Project – A collaboration with the NHSCT Health & Wellbeing Unit to reduce falls among patients.

🔸 Reflecting Families Project – Run in partnership with the Zachary Geddis Trust, supporting children with challenging behaviours.

🔸 Ukrainian Support Groups – Hosting three active support groups for the local Ukrainian community.


🚶 Dalriada Surgery & Ballycastle Medical Practice:

🔹 Walking Group & Autism Spectrum Disorder Support Group – Ongoing efforts to enhance community engagement and well-being.


🔥 Rasharkin Health Centre:

🔹 Warm Hub – A welcoming space bringing the local community together.


🌳 Garvagh Health Centre:

🔹 Local Men’s & Women’s Groups – Actively growing.

🔹 Forest Families Initiative – Encouraging outdoor community activities.


🎨 Ballymoney Family Practice:

🔹 Walking Group & Craft Group – Ongoing sessions promoting mental and physical well-being.

🔹 Recovery Programme – Supporting individuals experiencing addiction, launching Spring 2025.

🔹 Exam Stress Programme – Helping students manage stress during exam season.

🔹 Grief & Isolation Support – Plans in place to introduce further support groups.

🔹 Weight Management Programme – Successfully run in partnership with the NHSCT Health & Wellbeing Group, demonstrating the effectiveness of multi-disciplinary working.


💙 Portstewart:

🔹 Grief Support Group – Providing emotional support for bereaved individuals.

🔹 Mental Health Support for International Protection Seekers – Launching in the coming months.


🤝 Mountsandel:

🔹 HUG Group – Ongoing support for individuals dealing with grief.

🔹 Connect Wednesday – A successful initiative for those experiencing loneliness.

🔹 More Aware Programme – Supporting individuals with mental health challenges.

🔹 Young People’s Resilience Project – Helping young people build emotional strength.

🔹 Menopause Support Group – Continued focus on supporting women’s health.

🔹 Strength Training Programme – A successful pilot project in Autumn 2024 in collaboration with Relentless Training 24, with further development planned for 2025.

🔹 New Holistic Support Groups – Living Well Moyle partnership in Bushmills and a companion animal project in Portrush.


The dedication of our Social Work staff in identifying key themes within surgeries and working with statutory, community, and voluntary partners has been truly outstanding. Their commitment to holistic care helps address patient needs before requiring primary or secondary services, ensuring a stronger community-based support system.


🌍 Continuing Collaboration

We are actively working with:

Vineyard Compassion

Acacia Path

Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council

NHSCT & Causeway MDT


Together, we are developing ongoing information days for those seeking asylum in our area.


🙌 A Huge Thank You!

We would also like to acknowledge the fantastic work of our GP surgery staff and MDT colleagues. Collaborative, multi-agency working is key to the continued success of the MDT model, and we appreciate all your hard work in making a difference in our communities.


Elizabeth Craig


 

Donna Campbell and Mary McBride - Lead General Practice Pharmacists


🫀 Cardiopulmonary Risk Project Kicks Off!

The Causeway GPP team is excited to announce the launch of the Cardiopulmonary Risk Project for participating practices!

🔹 Mary McBride & Emma Archibald have begun patient identification, with clinics starting at the end of January.

🔹 The project focuses on optimising cardiovascular and COPD risk factors to reduce the likelihood of a CV event or COPD exacerbation.

🔹 A custom-designed review template will be embedded into practice software, ensuring all respiratory clinicians can use it for COPD reviews.

🔹 It is estimated that each practice will have 13-26 patients, depending on population size.

🔹 The project will run until June 2025.


🏃‍♂️ The 'Script Squad' Takes on the Belfast Marathon!

Five members of the pharmacist team have volunteered to represent the Causeway GPP team in the Belfast Marathon relay on Sunday 4th May 2025.


🎽 Meet the ‘Script Squad’:

Donna Campbell (Federation Lead)

Mary McBride (Federation Lead)

Karina Duffy

Susie Weir

Jenny Chartres


They will be running in support of Dementia UK, raising funds in memory of Mary’s mother, who sadly passed away in June 2024. A fantastic cause—best of luck to the team! 💙



Congratulations Corner!

💍 Cara Murdock & Jenny Chartres – Congratulations on your engagements!

👶 Sarah McBride – A huge congratulations on the birth of your baby boy, Conall!


 

Federation Education / PBL

Keep an eye out next week for a "Save the Date" announcement with the four confirmed PBL dates for the year. We are currently finalising the details and will share them with you soon!


 

GP Elective Care Services

Dr Conor Gorman - Deputy Clinical Director for Elective Care


As with my previous update, we await the decision of DOH regarding recurrent funding of our Dermatology, MSK , Women’s Health and Skin surgery services . The signs are positive that all services will continue into the next financial year but this still falls way short of where we want to be at. We continue to lobby decision makers regarding the benefits of having community-based services for our patients. We have seen over 80,000 patients in our clinics and feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, despite the funding cuts and increased waiting times.


With recurrent funding now agreed for Vasectomy, we are working on the backlog of referrals which built up while the service was suspended. We are currently training more vasectomists in order to meet this demand .


We are also undertaking a ‘proof of concept’ pilot for the excision of low risk BCC in primary care. We are hopeful that a primary care service for managing low risk BCC will grow out of this pilot.


We would encourage you to continue to refer into our services despite the longer waiting time as the vast majority of the referrals will wait much longer to be seen in secondary care , indeed the may never be seen in secondary care .

 







Northern GP Federation Support Unit Update (NFSU)


We would like to take a moment to acknowledge the retirement of Sandra Roberts, ECR Facilitator, who stepped down at the end of last year.


Sandra played an integral role in the establishment and development of elective care services in Northern Ireland, leaving a lasting legacy through her dedication and expertise. Her commitment and passion have been instrumental in shaping services that have benefited both patients and colleagues alike.


Beyond her professional contributions, Sandra was a valued and respected colleague, known for her warmth, support, and unwavering dedication. She will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure of working with her.


We extend our heartfelt thanks to Sandra for her years of service and wish her a fulfilling and happy retirement.



 

St Patrick's Day Closure Example
St Patrick's Day Closure Example

Practice Closure Posters


Following a request from a few practices we previously created Practice Closure Posters with the required information they wanted to communicate to patients. These were well received, therefore, we are now offering this to all of our practices.

These posters are sent via email, allowing you to print and display them within your practice and for use on your social channels as needed.


If you would like to receive these posters for all exceptional closure days throughout 2025 for your practice, please click here to register your interest.


 

NFSU HR

Cathy Christie - HR Officer

Carol Shaw - HR Administrator

📸 Check out our donation handover photo with Women’s Aid!
📸 Check out our donation handover photo with Women’s Aid!

Christmas Appeal 2024 –

Supporting Women’s Aid 🎄


A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to our Christmas Appeal 2024.


Together, we raised £140 for Women’s Aid alongside a generous collection of essential items. Your support has made a real difference!




 

Federation Teams Take on the Belfast Marathon 🏃‍♀️

Our Federation areas are gearing up for the Belfast Marathon Relay on 4th May 2025, each team running in support of a chosen charity. Best of luck to all participants!


  • East Antrim Federation – Running for Stroke Association

  • Causeway Federation – Running for Dementia UK

  • Mid Ulster Federation – Charity TBC

    • Niall O’Kane, Mark Donnelly, Mairead Quinn, Nichola Stewart & Anne-Marie Pickering


  • Antrim Ballymena Federation – Running for Northern Ireland Chest, Heart & Stroke

 

Upcoming Webinars & Learning Opportunities 📢


💡 Power to Your Pocket Webinar (hosted by the Consumer Council NI)

Now available on our website! Watch here.


❤️ Cardiovascular Heart Health Webinar with Dr. Patricia Campbell

📅 6th February 2025 | 1–2 PM


 


NFSU Project Update

Naomi Hutchinson & Rachael Elliott



NFSU - Keeping you up to date with our team.


We have had some recent changes within the NFSU team that we’d like to share:


  • Naomi Hutchinson, formerly our Project Coordinator, has been appointed to the new role of Business Support Manager. Naomi will oversee projects as well as other business operations at NFSU.


  • Rachael Elliott, our Project Coordinator, will be going on maternity leave towards the end of February 2025.


To put a face to our names and for the relevant contact details, click here - Northern Federation Support Unit | Northern Federation Support Unit

 

Economies of Scale Project


Thank you for completing our recent detailed Economies of Scale survey back in December.  Our response rate was 39%.  We are currently going through the data and taking the appropriate actions on the information we collated.  This is and will be an ongoing piece of work as there are several areas to research, negotiate and agree pricing frameworks and ensure we schedule periodical reviews to ensure we are obtaining the most competitive prices.  We also plan to update our “Suggested Suppliers” and relevant information on our website over the next couple of months, therefore please keep an eye out for this under our member practices login area.  For example, you may be in a current contract for shredding which is not yet due to expire, but when it does expire, you may wish to check out who our “Suggested Supplier” is, and the relevant information from our research and negotiations to make comparison with the agreement you already have.  


To date we have discussed, negotiated and agreed pricing frameworks with:


💰Defibrillator Discount for NFSU Member Practices!!


Further to previous correspondence with all Practices, we have been able to negotiate further discounts for the Physio Control CR2 Semi Automatic (Wifi) Defibrillator.          


The 3 main benefits to having the CR2 are:

 

  1. Connectivity – a smart defib that can be monitored remotely via wifi connectivity; sends 60 & 30 day notifications regarding battery/pad expiries;  automatic software updates; easy remote resus data downloads, plus more…

  2. Child mode – simple conversion to child mode (reduced energy) by the simple press of a button, with no need to change pads  (the child pads for the 500P would be an additional £120+VAT)

  3. CPR insight – the only device on the market allowing CPR to continue while the defib is analysing the underlying rhythm.  This allows for up to 25% more CPR to be delivered, increasing patient chances of survival and better patient outcomes.

 

The CR2 has been demonstrated to be the easiest device to use by the untrained user, and fastest to first shock.

 

Here is a link to a youtube channel showing the CR2 demo video


 

“Restore Datashred” – For Practice Shredding


For those practices who indicated that you may be interested in an alternative shredding provider please watch out for an individual practice email Naomi will send to each of you during the first week of February.  This will provide you would a specific price for your practice based on the information you provided.


If any NFSU member practice wishes to find out more, please look at the following information and contact Naomi should you have any queries:



Postal Sort – Postage within Practices


61% of Practices within NI currently use “Postal Sort” for their postal needs.  We organised a webinar for those Practices who had indicated their interested in finding out more / making savings in relation to their postal needs (from the survey).     


The following presentation will provide you will further information and the associated costs. 


For anyone wishing to use Postal Sort please feel free to email Naomi for the “new customer” documentation” (2 pages).



Ebrington Partnership – Almost £1500 savings in past 5 months!!


We are thrilled to announce that the Ebrington Buying Group Scheme, which launched on 1st August 2024 as a six-month trial, has now been approved as a permanent partnership with the Northern GP Federation. Over the last five months, participation in the scheme has led to almost £1500 in total savings for GP Practices in the group. If you have any questions in relation to pricing or products please contact Raymond Carless at Ebrington r.carless@ebrington-ni.com



Stericycle Partnership – Clinical Waste


We have achieved significant cost savings with Stericycle by leveraging economies of scale. Several practices have joined Stericycle regionally, and more plan to join in 2025 when their current contracts expire. Once these practices are fully onboarded, we will assess the total cost savings achieved. Currently, we are on tier 3 of pricing, resulting in a 14% savings for each practice compared to joining Stericycle individually. If you interested in joining please contact Smyth, Susan ssmyth@STERICYCLE.com Click here to view further details and resources:



 

AccuRx Partnership -


We will be contacting those EMIS Practices who are in the contract in March to confirm modules for the usual contract renewal.


We continue to support and manage the regional contract for AccuRx, ensuring cost savings for practices. In the Northern area alone, 38 EMIS practices are currently signed up and finding AccuRx highly effective in their operations, regionally there is over 100 GP Practices. As part of our support, we act as the primary point of contact for practices, addressing any queries and directing finance-related concerns to AccuRx.


We are also mindful of the upcoming Vision to EMIS migrations. If your practice is considering joining AccuRx or if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to: Naomi.hutchinson@northernfsu.co.uk or Rachael.elliott@northernfsu.co.uk 


Regional Discount Contract Pricing Structure: The yearly license fee is based on your patient list size and the modules you choose to purchase. Below is an example of the pricing calculation:


Example: A patient list size of 8,000 × £0.2496 (messaging bundle) = £1,996.80 for a 12-month licence. 


Please note: The annual license fee stated does not include VAT or SMS costs.


Webinar recordings/training for AccuRx:


 

Vision to EMIS Migration


If you are a Practice who will be migrating from Vision to EMIS you will be kept up-to-date by BSO.  Any Practice who is scheduled in PHASE 1 should have received an overall migration information handbook from BSO.  PHASE 1 will run to the end of May 25. 


Just for your information: 


There are 10 training days included in the migration package and the training starts approx. 6 weeks before the scheduled go live date.  The training includes:


  • Pre Migration (4 Days)

- Planning Day – 1 Day (6 weeks prior to Go Live)

- Preparation Day – 3 Days (2 -3 weeks prior to Go Live):-


  • Go Live Training (3 Days)

- Go Live Day

- Go Live Day + 1 Day

- Go Live Day + 2 Days


  • Further Training (3 Days scheduled on the week after Go Live)


Should you require any further information please feel free to contact:

David Rowntree Senior Project Manager GP IT Modernisation: BSO

028 9536 1173

 

We would like to remind you that your Federation has purchased a Practice Index Learning package licence for your Practice at £1095+vat per practice, this has been valid from January 2023 until January 2026. Please ensure you are making the most of this resource. Login - Practice Index HUB If you are having trouble accessing please let me know.


See Meadowridge Surgery thoughts on Practice Index Learning….

“Meadowbridge Surgery has been using Practice Index Learning since FSU provided funding to cover its cost. The Hub is an invaluable training tool for managing, tracking and monitoring statutory and mandatory training for both clinical and non-clinical staff with 75 mandatory eLearning courses, six Masterclasses and lunchtime learning available. We began with a free Practice Index Hub demo and with lots of helpful support from the Practice Index team and we haven't looked back since. We also use the free Holiday Manager tool which allows our staff to request and managers to approve annual leave online.  The Bradford Factor scale also lets us quickly identifying any sick leave issues needing addressed.  No more paper records but a smooth on-line operating system everyone has access to and a great time saving resource. Why not book a free demo to see the Practice Index Learning Hub in action and see what you have been missing!


If you need training on this please join Practice Index every Tuesday at 2pm – register here. Select a Date & Time - Calendly 


Our records indicate that several practices are currently not utilising Practice Index. While the use of Practice Index is optional for individual practices, we may contact those who do not appear to be actively using the platform to explore the possibility of removing their practice from the contract. Ultimately, your usage of the platform will play a key role in determining whether the Federation are in a position to renew your contract.



Practice Index PLUS - PLUS - Practice Index HUB Opportunity to Save on Practice Index PLUS??


What is Practice Index Plus? Practice Index PLUS leaflet.pdf



We understand that some practices are already using or interested in Practice Index PLUS. Recently, a Practice Manager approached us to explore potential cost-saving opportunities for GP practices to subscribe to PLUS.


Currently, the standard price for Practice Index PLUS is £425 + VAT. However, if we can confirm interest from 10 or more practices between 6th – 20th February, Practice Index has agreed to offer a discounted rate of £382.50 + VAT. For those who are already subscribed, Practice Index has confirmed that existing subscribers will also be eligible to receive the discounted rate at their next PLUS renewal.


If you are interested in subscribing or are already a Practice Index PLUS subscriber, please let us know by clicking below to complete this quick form:  https://forms.office.com/e/hvCvkq6RcX 


To find out more about PLUS - Join us on our Q&A Webinar for practice Index Plus on:

Thursday 6th February - 12pm - 12.30pm.


Microsoft Teams

Meeting ID: 348 706 346 671

Passcode: RV3aq9HT


 

GP Practice Job Advertising - NFSU Website

Did you know we have a section on our website where we can signpost potential applicants to any current live vacancies our member Practices have? 

We would encourage all practices to let us know as and when you have live opportunities.   

You can view our careers page for practices here: https://www.northernfsu.co.uk/nonfederation-gppracticevacancies


Use the form below to promote jobs on our site:


 

Contact us

As always if you have any questions for the FSU, please do not hesitate to contact the Federation Support Unit on info@northernfsu.co.uk or 02896208333


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