The first phase of a multi-million-pound programme to embed specialist staff in GP practices across the Omagh and Fermanagh area is launching on Friday.

The South West GP Federation and the Western Health and Social Care Trust are introducing Multi-Disciplinary Teams (MDTs) to improve access to care and reduce pressure on family doctors. The programme will run for five years and involves millions of pounds of investment.

In the first year, four full-time senior mental health practitioners will be employed by the Federation, and the Western Trust will deploy four full-time first contact physiotherapists. All practices are expected to gain access to physiotherapy sessions as the rollout progresses.

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt announced a £61 million funding package for MDTs in five areas last year, including West Tyrone. The South West GP Federation has been allocated £2.3 million for 2025-26, rising to £13.9 million by 2028-29.

Social workers and social work assistants are expected to join the teams later this year, further expanding the range of services available to patients.

Dr Rachel Wright, chair of the Federation, described the move as a pivotal moment and said it delivered much-needed access for the South West patient population. She acknowledged the pace of rollout had been slower than expected but said having local services closer to patients was a triumph given the challenges of rural geography.

Dr Maura O’Neill, Director of Community and Older People’s Services with the Western Trust, said the introduction of MDTs was a significant step forward. It is expected to enhance access to appointments, reduce demand for GP consultations, and provide earlier intervention for mental health and musculoskeletal concerns.