To ask the Minister of Health for his assessment of the potential inclusion of occupational therapists as first-contact practitioners in GP surgeries.

The Primary Care Multi-disciplinary Teams (MDT) model introduces new first contact social work, mental health, physiotherapy and social work roles into general practice, complemented by increased levels of district nursing and health visiting staff. It aims to move from a system of treating illness to holistically supporting positive physical and mental health, and social wellbeing.

The MDT model was designed with stakeholders from across the HSC, GP Federations and Third Sector and informed by an analysis of demand in GP practices and a review of best practice in UK & Ireland, and further afield

While Occupational Therapists are able to apply for MDT mental health practitioner’s posts there are no plans at this point to introduce any further first contact roles into primary care until the impact of the MDT model is fully assessed.