Health Minister, Robin, Swann, cuts the ribbon at the opening of the newly-renovated Toome Surgery

Northern Ireland (NI) Health Minister, Robin Swann, has officially opened a newly-renovated GP practice in County Antrim, following a £600,000 investment from the NI Department of Health.

The capital funding enabled the surgery to create an additional GP consulting room, enhance staff facilities, and provide adequate space to support the roll out of the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) model in the future.

Swann said: “I was very pleased to join the team at Toome Surgery to officially mark the opening of their newly-renovated premises.

“My department fully recognises the importance of providing capital investment for primary care premises, thereby supporting GPs to continue to provide high-quality care to the local population, now and in the future.

“Since the launch of the Primary Care Infrastructure Development scheme in 2018/19, the department has invested £33m of capital in similar developments across trust, GP, and third-party-owned premises.”

He added: “The reconfiguration works at Toome Surgery also paves the way for the practice to roll out the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) model in time.

“While it is clear that the MDT model has the ability to transform primary care as we know it, the pace at which we can move forward

is dependent on the availability of the necessary recurrent funding.”

The MDT model involves specialist staff such as physiotherapists, mental health and social workers working alongside GPs and practice staff and will mean patients can see different specialists within the GP practice, reducing the need for referrals and appointments elsewhere.

Dr Adrian Johnston, a GP in the practice, said: “We are delighted with the investment from the Department of Health and our landlord, Tidal.

“This will allow us to provide improved facilities for our growing patient population and we look forward to accommodating MDT staff in Toome Surgery.”