To ask the Minister of Health for an update on plans to introduce a multi-disciplinary team model at the (i) Mater; and (ii) Knockbracken out of hours GP services.

SPPG commissions GP Out of Hours (OOHs) services across Northern Ireland from five GP OOHs Providers. The operational delivery of services (including staffing) is the responsibility of providers. Belfast Trust is responsible for the provision of GP OOHs services for the population of Belfast. All GP OOHs providers are expected to review activity levels and capacity challenges to ensure the efficient use of resources and provision of an effective service.

I am aware that the Belfast Trust have recently implemented nursing staff within the GP OOHs team as part of the service's direction to develop a multidisciplinary team approach to out-of-hours care. Belfast Trust have advised that the service has also begun implementing nurse triage, including utilising independent nurse prescribers at weekends. The service is predominantly a telephone triage and assessment service and nursing staff are based at the Mater site, however cover calls received at both bases. Future development of the multidisciplinary team will include the recruitment of pharmacists, advanced nurse practitioners, and Mental Health Practitioners. Belfast Trust advise there is no fixed timescale for this to be fully implemented.

My department does encourage the development of a multidisciplinary workforce in the interests of good patient care and service resilience.