Making MDT work for Wales
General practice is evolving fast: GPs are collaborating closely with pharmacists and other health professionals to enable patients to access the right professional at the right time.
The future of high-quality patient care in general practice rests on the skills and experience of a wide range of health professionals.
That's why we've joined forces with the Royal College of General Practitioners Wales to get to grips with MDT working in a general practice setting.
Culture will be the ultimate driving force behind the success of the MDT model of general practice, and driving up standards and quality of patient care will depend upon professional relationships and understanding of all professional roles.
We've developed a resource (see below) for health professionals, by health professionals. This has benefited from the input of health professionals working in general practice and has been endorsed by five professional bodies, with the input and support of other health professionals working in general practice.
The resource aims to:
- Equip health professionals with insight into the cultural and practical aspects of working in a general practice
- Create a good understanding of different professional roles within general practice
- Identify the core values and behaviours that are needed for a successful MDT
- Support conversations between health professionals in defining roles, responsibilities and expectations across the MDT
- Inform prospective members of the general practice team about the important aspects of MDT working.
The resource is for individual professionals and those responsible for leading the development of the general practice team. NHS Managers and those responsible for primary care transformation may also find this resource helpful.
Ultimately we want this to be a practical tool for strengthening health professional relationships and delivering high quality, responsive care within general practice settings.