Dr. Tom Black is a highly experienced and respected general practitioner with a distinguished career spanning over three decades. A graduate of University College Dublin in 1984, he completed the majority of his hospital training at Altnagelvin Hospital before becoming a partner at Abbey Medical Practice, where he has served for more than 30 years.
Throughout his career, Dr. Black has been deeply committed to medical education. He has contributed significantly as a GP trainer and has been involved in training undergraduate medical students, nurses, and physician associates. His expertise extends beyond clinical practice, as evidenced by his membership in the Acute Hospital Review Group in 2001, which was instrumental in reorganizing the acute hospital sector in Northern Ireland.
Dr. Black has held numerous leadership positions within the medical community. He served as the Western LMC secretary for 17 years, chaired the BMA’s GP committee for 7 years, and most recently concluded his 6-year tenure as chair of BMA council NI in 2024. His influence reached national levels as he worked as a UK negotiator for 7 years, focusing on the GP Quality and Outcomes framework.
An innovator in healthcare delivery, Dr. Black was a founding member of Ireland’s first GP out-of-hours service in 1994. He has been actively involved in developing new models of care, including the integration of pharmacists into GP practices and the ongoing development of GP federation and multidisciplinary team systems in Northern Ireland.
Currently, Dr. Black maintains a hybrid practice, working both in the NHS and in private GP services. This unique perspective has informed his view on the future of healthcare in Northern Ireland. He advocates for a reimagined healthcare model that combines traditional NHS principles with private healthcare and cross-border cooperation to address the challenges facing the current system.
Dr. Black’s extensive experience, leadership roles, and forward-thinking approach to healthcare delivery make him a valuable voice in shaping the future of medical practice in Northern Ireland and beyond.
