Causeway GP Federation Quarterly Newsletter - Autumn 2025
- Northern Federation Support Unit
- Oct 31
- 15 min read
A note from the Chair - Dr Johnny Burns
Colleagues,
I hope this finds you well. We continue to progress with MDT roll out trying to navigate the various aspects involved. Many thanks to all those who have had to be patient due to slow progress.
Regards MDT as previously mentioned, there will be changes to both Federation payments and Practice payments. We have made considerable progress on this and cuts won’t be as bad as first thought, we will keep you fully informed of changes as soon as they are confirmed.
We continue to look at or current resources, in particular our GPPs, and see if we are in a position for further recruitment to help Practices with improved back fill for sickness and Maternity cover.
Some of you may be aware of conversations and sound bites on the Neighbourhood Model from the Health Minister and Permanent Secretary. At present, there doesn’t appear to be a clear vision of what this looks like, but they are very clear that Federations will be heavily involved. I have been involved in discussions and along with a small number of other GPs, will try and keep very focused on what is deliverable for patients and Practices and resist any unfunded shift left of work.
There is a degree of scepticism around this but I would be open minded to the idea at this stage and wait for details before passing judgement .
Many thanks for your ongoing support.
MDT - Senior Mental Health Practitioners
Joanne Hamilton - Deputy Mental Health Manager
🌟 A Warm Welcome to Our New SMHPs! 🌟
We are thrilled to extend a very warm welcome to our two new team members, Aine McFadden and Gemma Ferguson!
Both join us after working in the Adult Community Mental Health Team. We are excited to have them on board and look forward to their contributions in enhancing our service.
🤝 Supporting Asylum Seekers and Refugees
In September, we attended a Welcome Information Event at Portrush Town Hall, organised by Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.
This event allowed us to connect with individuals seeking asylum or refuge within our local community. It provided a valuable opportunity to highlight the services we provide, offer assistance, and signpost to appropriate supports.
💬 Working Towards Prevention! #EVAWG
Regionally, we continue to see high rates of violence against women and girls (EVAWG). Our SMHPs witness the impact of this every day, with many patients presenting with mental health issues directly linked to experiences of violence and abuse.
With limited resources and long waiting lists for specialist services, we recognised the urgent need for prevention and cultural change. To respond, we reached out to Relate NI, one of the eight organisations to receive funding under the Regional Change Fund, and invited them to join us for a Community Invite Event at Coleraine Town Hall.
Read more here
This event created a vital space for the local community, education authorities, and community groups to:
Share their perspectives on local needs
Learn about the valuable programmes offered by Relate NI
Discuss barriers to accessing support and services
Our aim was simple: to promote community access, reduce barriers, and connect those most in need with the right support.
The outcome has been extremely positive. Several local community groups have now expressed interest in Relate NI facilitating workshops in their areas, which they will promote and co-host. This collaborative approach means that more people will gain access to support closer to home, helping to strengthen prevention and early intervention.
🌿 World Mental Health Day 2025: “Tea and Talk” at the Practice
On 10 October 2025, our SMHPs hosted a warm and welcoming “Tea and Talk” session to mark World Mental Health Day.
This year’s theme, “Access to Services,” focused on ensuring everyone knows how and where to seek support for their mental health when they need it.
Read more here
The SMHPs wanted to highlight that our colleagues in busy GP practices are just as deserving of mental health support as the patients we care for.
The session encouraged staff to take a few mindful minutes out of their day to relax, chat with colleagues, and enjoy some lovely treats provided by the team.
Thank you to our SMHPs for organising such a thoughtful initiative and for continuing to champion a mentally healthy, caring workplace for all.
Mental health matters every day, not just on World Mental Health Day.
👩👧 Supporting Thriving Families: Stress Management for Mums
Julie Lennox, SMHP at Lodge Health Centre, in partnership with the MDT, facilitated a Stress Management session for mums attending the Thriving Families group, organised by Lodge Health social workers and health visitors.
The session focused on understanding stress, recognising its impact on the body and mind, and exploring practical relaxation and grounding techniques.
Participants engaged in mindful breathing exercises, shared affirmations, and discussed ways to support personal stress control — all while their children played nearby in a supportive, family-friendly environment.
MDT - First Contact Physiotherapists
Suzanne Kennedy - Consultant Physiotherapist
🌟 Recognising Our FCP Team
I would like to acknowledge the continued work of all the First Contact Physiotherapists (FCPs) in the Causeway Federation. We have a great team delivering a high-quality musculoskeletal service to our local population.
This was clearly evidenced in the patient satisfaction survey completed last month, which provided excellent feedback for our service. The most common recommendation for improvement was to expand the service in practices that don’t yet have a full-time FCP available.
🧘♀️ Staff Well-Being
As a team, we dedicated a morning in August to staff well-being, exploring the “Take 5 Steps to Well-Being.”
The session was enjoyable, reflective, and encouraged connection and self-care across the team.
🤝 Community Collaboration
We continue to work as a multidisciplinary team with our service users and community partners.
There are currently several ongoing projects, including:
Yoga for Health in Coleraine and Ballymoney
Tai Chi sessions in Portrush
Read more here
A special thanks to Adam Wilson, who represented the FCP team at the Building Communities Resource Centre Health Fair in October.
In November, Suzanne Kennedy will be flying the MDT flag at the Causeway Hospital Partnership Board, promoting our services for the local population.
MDT - Social Work
Elizabeth Craig - Social Work Lead
PCMDT Social Workers in the Causeway GP Federation continue to focus on the social determinants of health and well-being, actively addressing health and social inequalities through their work promoting resilience and resource building with individuals, groups, and communities.
The current issues and priorities guiding their work include:
Carer support
Social isolation
General social issues
Frailty
Physical disability
Housing
Parenting
ASD/ADHD concerns
In the last period, referrals into the service have risen by 61%, and consultations have increased by 35%.
PCMDT Social Workers are currently supporting patients through a combination of:
Individual time-limited interventions (e.g. solution-focused therapy)
Group work (e.g. carers’ support, parenting, etc.)
Community development initiatives (e.g. Causeway Loneliness Network, Age Concern Causeway)
Signposting (getting patients to the right service at the right time)
🤝 Collaborative Working
We continue to develop pathways with our colleagues in Secondary Care services in the NHSCT to ensure patients receive the support they require.
This includes regular meetings with:
Community Care counterparts
Children’s Services
Community Mental Health for Older People
Learning Disability teams
CAMHS
We are now part of the Multi-Agency Support Hub, run in conjunction with PCSP and Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, and are also developing initiatives with our MDT partners and the Health and Wellbeing Team in NHSCT.
Read more here
🌱 Community Groups & Initiatives
Rasharkin
A Health Hub has commenced for all age groups in Rasharkin, in conjunction with local churches, to address ongoing community issues.
Our Social Work staff have developed and are facilitating programmes alongside the local Presbyterian Church. The Warm Hub is very active and now engages in intergenerational work with local primary schools, promoting understanding between generations and building community cohesion.
Garvagh
Tuber Tuesday’s Men’s Group continues to be active in the community, assisting with the community garden alongside the Wednesday Women’s Group.
They are currently planning to help with the annual Christmas lights switch-on, providing a lit archway entrance into the main event area, and producing wooden crafts to sell at the forthcoming Christmas Fayre.
The group continues to address social isolation, loneliness, and mental health, receiving very positive feedback.
Mountsandel
The Coleraine Bowling Club, in partnership with Mountsandel Medical Centre, facilitated an eight-week lawn bowling project beginning on 9 July 2025.
Nineteen participants enjoyed learning new skills and social interaction. All expressed interest in the indoor bowling sessions planned for later this year and early 2026.
Mountsandel also continues to operate other successful groups, including HUG, More Aware, and Connect Wednesdays, addressing local issues and concerns.The ‘Strength for Women’ programme remains well-attended at Studio24 in Coleraine, supporting women’s perimenopausal and menopausal fitness.
Lodge
Lodge staff are running three groups starting in September 2025:
Thriving Families: Run in conjunction with Health Visitors, supporting parents of children aged 18 months to 4 years with issues such as sleep, nutrition, and toilet training.
Balance and Boccia: Aimed at people at risk of falls and frailty, focusing on balance and strength to prevent falls; offered across the Triangle area.
Stable Connections: An equine therapy programme commencing in the new year, aimed at those experiencing stress, anxiety, or loneliness, with strong evidence-based benefits.
Coleraine Health Centre / Killowen
The carers’ support group ‘CARUS’ continues with 150 members across the Federation, alongside ‘Chatty Carriages’, run in partnership with Age Concern Causeway and the Causeway Loneliness Network.
Dementia Café:
Running weekly in Coleraine for those experiencing dementia and/or their carers.This has been well attended and warmly received, following the success of the dementia wristband initiative and dementia choir, offering early-stage support to individuals and carers alike.
Ballycastle Practices
The Ballycastle Chatty Dander takes place every Monday morning (10am–11am), open to anyone in the local area.
Recent walks included Benvardin Gardens and Bona Margy Friary.
Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with one walker sharing:
“The walking group has given me purpose to get up and get out to meet other people.”
The ASD group also continues to run successfully, supporting parents of children with neurodiverse needs.
Bushmills
Bushmills are running a Strength and Balance Programme in partnership with the Health and Wellbeing Team (NHSCT) to promote early intervention and prevention regarding falls.There are currently 25 participants, with positive feedback and engagement.
Ballymoney
The Ballymoney Team have launched the ‘Waymaker’ Programme, aimed at children aged 4–8 years, focusing on emotional regulation and coping strategies.
🧘♀️ Case Study: Portrush
At Portrush Medical Practice, Tai Chi has been introduced in conjunction with the First Contact Physiotherapist (FCP).
Read more here
Tai Chi, as a primary care community development initiative, offers an innovative and holistic approach to improving both physical and mental health.
Its slow, controlled movements enhance balance, flexibility, and strength — key for fall prevention — while fostering social connection and combating loneliness.
The 12-week programme began on 25 September 2025 at Portrush Medical Centre, with 12 socially isolated patients identified as being at high risk of falls.
The programme is co-facilitated by Primary Care Social Work and the FCP.
Initial sessions included physical tests and wellbeing evaluations, which will be repeated at the end to measure outcomes. Attendance has remained high into week five, with participants reporting improvements in sleep, mobility, and social wellbeing.
After each session, attendees enjoy tea, chat, and camaraderie — with participants even offering lifts to others, strengthening community connection.
🌼 Castleroe PS and Mountsandel HC Collaborate on “Focus on Mindfulness” Project
Castleroe Primary School was delighted to collaborate with Mountsandel Medical Centre on the inspiring Focus on Mindfulness Project.
This initiative has provided pupils with enriching experiences that promote both mental and physical well-being.
One of the highlights has been the development of the outdoor play area, which offers one of the most effective learning environments for children. Outdoor play fosters essential life skills such as negotiation, problem-solving, self-regulation, and social interaction. It also nurtures healthy relationships with peers and adults, all while sparking a sense of adventure.
Read more here
Research consistently shows that limited access to outdoor physical activity can negatively impact children’s health and development. However, children who engage in outdoor play experience a wide range of benefits — both short-term and long-term.
At Castleroe PS, biking activities using balance bikes have significantly enhanced pupils’ motor skills, coordination, and balance.
Thanks to this programme, pupils are enjoying ongoing positive experiences that support their mental, physical, and academic growth across all seasons.
We are sincerely grateful to Mountsandel Medical Centre for this valuable opportunity to work together in supporting our children’s holistic development through seed funding.
🎓 Training & Development
The team continue to engage in training programmes responding to issues emerging in practice.
Working alongside CAMHS, Children’s Services, and Paediatric ASD Services, they are currently training in:
Solihull
Invest and Play
These will enable practitioners to run groups for parents and families, addressing school avoidance, parenting, and nurturing.
It is hoped these initiatives will help prevent further referrals and provide earlier, more accessible support.
Donna Campbell and Mary McBride - Lead General Practice Pharmacists
🎄We can’t believe that Christmas is just around the corner again!
👩⚕️ Staffing
We are delighted to welcome two new relief pharmacists, Ciara McHugh and Catherine Parke, who joined our GPP team in September.
It has been a challenging year for some practices due to GPP shortages resulting from maternity leave and long-term sickness.
Ciara is currently working in Mountsandel and Lodge Surgeries.
Catherine is working in Ballymoney and Garvagh.
Thank you to all those practices for warmly welcoming them into your teams.
We hope Ciara and Catherine enjoy their new roles and wish them the best of luck as they transition into general practice pharmacy!
🏆 Recognising Achievement
The annual GPP Recognising Achievement Awards were held in Belfast on 25 September, coinciding with World Pharmacists’ Day.
This initiative celebrates general practice pharmacists who have developed projects to improve patient health and wellbeing or enhance practice systems.
We were delighted that Jenny Chartres, practice pharmacist in Portrush and Rasharkin, was a finalist in the Excellence in Practice category for her project:
“Pills, Plans and Progress: A Pharmacist’s Approach to T2DM.”
Read more here
Other inspiring projects showcased included:
The management of chronic kidney disease
Improving HRT reviews via the use of technology
An EMIS project for the management and review of GLP1 receptor antagonists
It was truly an inspirational event!
If you would like more information on any of the projects, please contact Donna or Mary.
💻 NILES for GPPs
There has been a significant change to the NILES requirements for GPPs this year.Practices must now submit quarterly reports on their GPP activity to SPPG, using the following five read codes:
Code | Description |
Medication review by pharmacist (full medication review) | |
Other medication management (task requiring partial review or reconciliation) | |
Medication reconciliation | |
Cost-effective review by pharmacist – intervention appropriate | |
Cost-effective review by pharmacist – intervention not appropriate |
We have circulated EMIS searches for these reports to Practice Managers.
Currently, there are no Vision searches available to share, but if any Practice Manager has developed some and is happy to share, please contact Donna or Mary.
💍 Congratulations
Congratulations again to Jenny Chartres, who married David Hughes on 23 August.
We wish you both a lifetime of love and happiness together!
Federation Education / PBL
🩺 Hot Topics Event Success
Thank you to everyone who attended the Hot Topics event at the Royal Court Hotel on 24 September - it was a fantastic and well-attended day of learning.
If you haven’t yet received your certificate of attendance, please refer to the email sent on 25 September 2025. Simply complete the feedback form included in that message, and your certificate will be automatically emailed to you once submitted.
📅 Looking Ahead – November PLT Afternoon
Our next Protected Learning Time (PLT) afternoon, with Dalriada Urgent Care (DUC) providing cover, will take place on Wednesday 19 November 2025.
This is a great opportunity to host an in-house PBL session tailored to your own practice’s needs — whether that’s clinical learning, team development, or another area your team would benefit from most.
DUC will provide practice cover from 2:00pm to 6:00pm.
Northern GP Federation Support Unit Update (NFSU)
To put a face to our names and for the relevant contact details, click here -
NFSU Project Update
Naomi Hutchinson - Business Support Manager
Medical Admin Academy
🎓 NFSU Celebrates Another Successful Medical Administration Academy
NFSU is delighted to announce the successful completion of another Medical Administration Academy, delivered in partnership with the Mid & East Antrim Labour Market Partnership (MEALMP) and funded by the Department for Communities.
This innovative programme, which began in September 2025, equipped participants with essential medical administration and employability skills tailored specifically to general practice.
Read more here
The academy concluded with a celebration event on 23 October at the Ecos Hub, Ballymena, recognising participants’ achievements, confidence, and readiness to begin careers within GP practices — with some already progressing into placements or employment.
NFSU extends sincere thanks to all participants, facilitators, partner GP practices, and practice managers who supported the programme by offering placements, attending events, or contributing in other ways.
It is also worth noting that income generated through initiatives like the Medical Administration Academy contributes positively to our Federation’s financial reserves.
These funds allow us to reinvest in our Member Practices by supporting future events and programmes, such as “Understanding the New MCHP.”
Your continued support and engagement in these initiatives enable us to deliver meaningful opportunities and value across the Federation.
💷 Economies of Scale – Cost Saving Information Live on Website!
🖨️ Printer Cartridges NI
Our Suggested Supplier, Printer Cartridges NI, is offering Member Practices an excellent deal on Zebra ZD410 labels:
Product Details | Specification |
Size | 57mm x 32mm (White) |
Quantity | 1,000 per roll · 10 rolls per pack |
Price | £55.00 (inc. VAT & delivery) |
That’s just £4.58 per roll! 🎉
Click here to add to your favourites
Take a moment to explore the other cost-saving information we have researched and summarised, now available on our website:
🔗 www.northernfsu.co.uk/economies-of-scale
We would encourage everyone to bookmark this page for easy access.
To do so, once you click on the link, simply save it to your favourites in your browser, as per the following:
We’ll be continuing to develop this project by reviewing and updating the information regularly — so feel free to visit frequently!
🏥 Best Practice Session: Understanding the New MCHP
We were delighted to welcome Julie Healy and Michaela Mackin from NIPSO to Ecos Hub on Wednesday 22 October 2025 for an engaging Best Practice Session on the new Model Complaints Handling Procedure (MCHP) for the Health and Social Care sector.
Julie and Michaela guided attendees through what the new procedure means for GP Practices and how it will change existing processes.The MCHP will replace the Department of Health Complaint Directions and become a statutory requirement in January 2026, giving Practices an opportunity to begin preparing early.
During the session, a letter from SPPG, dated 10 October, was mentioned — one which NFSU and NIPSO had not yet seen.
On behalf of Northern Member Practices, NFSU (Naomi) kindly offered to respond to this letter to seek further clarity on the steps SPPG are considering as part of their “Honest Broker” role.
Practices are keen to be involved in these discussions to ensure statutory obligations are met while keeping processes efficient and manageable in an already demanding environment.
NFSU has since submitted a formal response (as of 30 October) and will keep Practices updated once a reply is received.
Read more here
We were delighted with the excellent turnout:
56 people registered from 47 Northern Practices (71%)
46 attended on the day, representing 35 Practices (53%)
A big thank you to everyone who took part and contributed to the discussion!
If you register for an event but are later unable to attend, please let us know as soon as possible — this helps us keep costs low and plan future sessions effectively.
📄 Additional Resources
Attached are the materials shared during the session:
You can also find more details and resources on the NIPSO Website.
👥 Staff Update
🩺 Appointment of Northern Governance Lead
We are pleased to welcome Anne Witherow as the new Northern Federations Governance Lead.
Anne brings extensive experience in governance from her time working within the Western Health and Social Care Trust. In her new role, Anne will support consistent and robust governance arrangements across Federations, including within GPP, MDT, ANP, and GPN services.
This role has been developed to strengthen governance structures at a Northern Federation level and build on the good work already in place within individual Federations. Federation governance leads will continue to operate locally, with Anne providing coordination, support, and assurance across the region.
We look forward to working with Anne as she settles into her role.
💼 Appointment of Project Coordinator – NFSU
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Hannah Wilson as Project Coordinator within the Northern GP Federation Support Unit (NFSU).
Hannah will play a key role in coordinating and delivering a range of projects and workstreams, providing expert business support across the four Northern Federations — Antrim Ballymena, Causeway, East Antrim, and Mid Ulster.
Her work will support the implementation of new services and initiatives and ensure the smooth and timely delivery of project outcomes.
Watch This Space
📝 Upcoming Member Survey
We are in the process of developing a Member Survey that will soon be shared with all Northern Member Practices.
The aim of this survey is to gather valuable insights to help us better understand your priorities and ensure that NFSU’s work remains aligned with the needs of your Practice — while taking into account the practical constraints we operate within.
For example, we are currently exploring training requirements across Practices and assessing whether there are opportunities to support cost savings through centralised training options.Your input will be essential in shaping how we move forward with initiatives like these.
💻 Practice Index Learning Update
Following a meeting with our Practice Index Account Manager at the end of September, we are currently exploring a range of options, which will be discussed further with our Executive Team.
At this stage, it is likely that the Federation will not continue funding Practice Index Learning.
This decision is being considered as 47% of Practices have never completed a course through the platform, and only 11% have completed more than 100 courses over the past three years.
However, we are in discussions to secure the most competitive pricing possible for Practices that actively use several components of Practice Index.
Please keep an eye on our general communications and upcoming newsletters for further updates.
Accurx Scribe in Northern Ireland –
Demo & Live Q&A
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Click to register for the Demo & Live Q&A
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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Date of next newsletter - January 2026
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