RCGP Northern Ireland
About Northern Ireland
RCGP Northern Ireland aims to represent our members working in Northern Ireland and to address local issues. We also work with RCGP colleagues from across the UK on issues of mutual concern.
RCGPNI represents over 1,400 members in Northern Ireland, accounting for 75% of the GP workforce in Northern Ireland.
Activities of RCGPNI include:
- Membership support and development for all stages of the GP career
- Engagement with key policymakers and stakeholders including senior officials at the Department of Health, the Strategic Planning and Performance Group and other statutory agencies
- Political engagement, including with the Northern Ireland Assembly Health Committee and Minister for Health
- Preparation of thorough responses to Governmental policy consultations, to ensure the views of general practice are on the record
- Represent general practice on a range of high level working groups to shape public policy
- Working with other medical Royal Colleges, the BMA and similar organisations to make progress on our common aims
- Represent the views of members by engaging with the media
- Support for practice-based staff
- Provision of CPD courses and events
RCGP Northern Ireland Council
The RCGP Northern Ireland Council is made up of GP elected members from the Northern Ireland Membership, including 15 geographic representatives (three from each trust area), as well as additional members who represent various membership communities and focus areas. There is also an appointed lay representative who holds observer status on RCGPNI Council. Members give their time on a voluntary basis to further the objectives of the College in Northern Ireland.
The Chair of RCGPNI Council is Dr Ursula Mason.
Email: ChairNI@rcgp.org.uk
Twitter: @ursulaamason
RCGPNI Council meetings take place online and in the RCGPNI Office on a quarterly basis with the Annual General Meeting being held in November. All members are entitled to attend the Council meetings as observers and should declare their intention to attend by emailing the NI Governance Officer Bronagh McCann on Bronagh.McCann@rcgp.org.uk or NICouncil@rcgp.org.uk.
Officers
Dr Ursula Mason, RCGPNI Chair and Belfast Area Representative
Council members
- Dr John Goodrich, Deputy Chair Membership & Professional Development and Northern Area Rep
- Dr Frew Johnston, Northern Area Representative
- Dr Aoibhin McGarrity, Northern Area Representative
- Dr Adrienne Keown, Southern Area Representative
- Dr Emma Murtagh, Belfast Area Representative
- Dr Rebecca McGinley, Belfast Area Representative and UK Council Representative
- Dr Paul Molloy, Western Area Representative and GPC Representative
- Dr Andrew Wilson, First5 Representative
- Dr Miriam Dolan, Rural Representative
- Dr Nigel Hart, Academic Representative
- Dr Waqar Ahmed, Sessional Representative
- Dr Derval Dolan, Western Area Representative
- Dr Paul Leggett, NIMDTA Rep
- Dr Jonathan Fee, Southeastern Area Representative
- Dr Richard Dillion, Deputy First5 Representative
- Dr John O’Kelly, Later Career and Retired Member Representative
- Dr Alan Glendinning, Southern Area Representative
- Dr Jonathan Dillon, Southern Area Representative
- Dr Niamh Slevin - Climate & Sustainability Rep
- Dr Nicola Topping - Established GP Rep
- Dr Garry Adair Gilliland - Equality Diversity and Inclusion Rep
- Dr Anita Ejiofor - International Medical Graduate Rep
- Dr Arfa Zahra Ijaz - GP Registrar Rep
- Dr Nicola Herron - Western Area Rep
- Dr Anna Marie Trainor - SE Area Rep
- Dr Trevor Killeen - SE Area Rep
Northern Ireland Council Executive Committee members
- Dr Laurence Dorman
- Dr Ursula Mason
- Dr John Goodrich
- Dr Caren Walsh
- Dr Louise Dubras
- Dr Emma Murtagh
- Dr Siobhan McEntee
Practice Managers' Forum
The Practice Managers' Forum is a network of support to practice managers giving them a platform to share information, ideas and views on the smooth running of practice life. We host Practice Manager events bi-annually which are available to book via our website or contact NICouncil@rcgp.org.uk
Patient Network
To find out how to get involved in the Patient Network on behalf of patients in Northern Ireland, to continue enhancing the quality of services delivered by GPs, please contact Cliona McCarney
Your Local NI Events
RCGP Northern Ireland are proud to deliver a number of excellent educational and social events throughout the year.
View all learning and social events in Northern Ireland
Professional behaviours and communication principles
The successful treatment of our patients depends heavily on our ability to work well together. Good communication should sit at the heart of everything we do - and often many of the issues we face are the result of poor communication.
This document, which has been agreed by medical Royal Colleges in Northern Ireland, intends to renew a sense of professional respect and assist in overcoming barriers in the future.
Professional behaviours and communication principles (PDF file, 791 KB)
A prescription for general practice - Northern Ireland Assembly election manifesto 2022
Past Chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners in Northern Ireland, Dr Laurence Dorman launched "A prescription for general practice" urging political leaders to prioritise investing in general practice, ahead of the Northern Ireland Assembly election in May 2022.
- Read our press release about the launch
- RCGPNI Assembly Election Manifesto May 2022: A Prescription for General Practice (PDF file, 1,220 KB)
- RCGPNI: A prescription to treat the crisis in general practice (PDF file, 569 KB)
Controlled drugs registers
If you would like to order a controlled drugs register (PDF file, 326 KB), please complete the order form or contact NICouncil@rcgp.org.uk. We will post a hardcopy Controlled Drugs register out to your chosen address.
RCGPNI publications
- A Workforce Fit for the Future: RCGPNI Retention Strategy 2024 (PDF file, 1.6 MB)
- Support, sustain, renew - a vision for General Practice in Northern Ireland 2019 (PDF file, 1.7 MB)
- RCGPNI lesbian, gay and bisexual patient guidelines for GPs
- RCGPNI trans patient guidelines for GPs 2017 (PDF file, 1.5 MB)
- Patient participation groups booklet 2015 (PDF file, 3.3 MB)
RCGPNI student writing competition winners
The RCGP Northern Ireland Faculty team invited medical students in Northern Ireland to submit a 500-word essay on their 'Hopes for the future of General Practice in Northern Ireland'. We were blown away by the response from medical students and were touched by the passion demonstrated in these essays.
Professor Helen Reid from Queen's University and Dr Sian-Lee Ewan from Ulster University kindly graded all entries for us. Their combined marks showed a clear winner: Kieran Keenan (Queen's University Belfast) and joint second place: Amy Parke (Ulster University) and Conor O'Brien (Queen's University Belfast).
Visit our blog to view Kieran's winning essay in full and to access links to the essays of Amy Parke and Conor O'Brien.
Congratulations to everyone who entered this year's competition, and a massive well done to our winners!
Member support
We engage with members at all career stages through our Council representatives and via our programme of member support events. From student support via our Undergraduate Medical Champions, to recognising GP colleagues through RCGP Fellowship, we support you throughout your career. Our website hosts a wealth of information on your membership, including helpful resources and local events.
Continuing professional development
RCGPNI provide an educational programme during the course of the year with concessional rates for members. If you have any suggestions for future events or courses, please contact Megan Gillespie at Megan.Gillespie@rcgp.org.uk.
Contact us
3 Joy Street
Belfast
BT2 8LE
Email: NICouncil@rcgp.org.uk
Phone: 020 3188 7722
Follow us
Upcoming events
14 January 2025
Art for GPs - January 2025
The RCGP South West Faculties have engaged the services of a professional artist to bring members online art classes. Join our online acrylic painting classes and discover the...
15 January 2025
The RCGP 1-day SCA preparation course
This open to all one-day training course aims to improve your consultation skills and as a result pass your SCA. The course offers interactive sessions with experienced trainers...
15 January 2025
Psychology of the Workplace Webinar series: Part 1 Management and the VUCA Context
Join us for the first session of our three-part webinar series on the Psychology of the Workplace. This series aims to enhance collaboration and explore new material relevant to...
21 January 2025
Time Management in General Practice
Join us online for an evening webinar focusing on Time Management, helping you to gain confidence in steering consultations, navigating challenging conversations and tips to...
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