Perceived barriers and enablers to multidisciplinary team care in general practice

Seventy-nine per cent of GPs identified a lack of government funding and incentives as a barrier to MDT care within their practice, followed by lack of time to collaborate (69%) and lack of access to other health professionals (47%) (Figure 19). More than a third of GPs (35%) felt that workforce shortages were a barrier to MDT care, and four in 10 GPs cited coordination and scheduling issues as a barrier (Figure 19).

In many instances, the factors perceived as barriers by GPs were then recognised as enablers to MDT care in general practice if GP concerns were effectively addressed. For example, nearly eight in 10 GPs (79%) identified government funding and incentives as the top enabler, aligning with the proportion of GPs who noted a lack of funding as a barrier. The next top enabler was patient accessibility to other health professionals (68%) and a suitable practice environment and infrastructure (62%) (Figure 20).

The perceptions of enablers within a MDT care environment differ between those working in MDT care and those who are not. In particular, those not working in MDT care are less likely to identify good clinical governance, suitable practice environments, patient engagement, administrative support, and compatible technology and systems as enablers of MDT care in general practice.