My name is Katy Nicholson, I am the Professional Support Team Manager here within Family Practitioner Services.
I manage a specialised non-payment team responsible for the contractor list management of Northern Ireland’s medical and non-medical primary care contractors.
I oversee the operation and governance of the Common Practitioner Model (CPM) — a key contractor database that underpins multiple critical systems across health and social care, including payment systems, laboratories, and radiology services.
My team ensures the accurate activation and deactivation of contractor numbers and ciphers, enabling contractors such as General Practitioners, Community Pharmacies, and other primary care providers to prescribe and treat patients safely and legally. This work forms a vital foundation for patient care, even if it often takes place behind the scenes.
• How long you have worked in BSO?
I joined BSO almost five years ago, beginning as a graduate intern with FPS. Since then, I’ve grown into a committed member of Family Practitioner Services, building deep expertise and contributing to the continuous improvement of our services.
• How you feel you make a difference to HSC?
In healthcare, it’s easy to overlook the significance of your achievements because so much of what we do feels like “just part of the job.”
But when I reflect on my work, I’m reminded of the direct influence our accuracy, governance, and compliance have on patient outcomes and on the professionals delivering care. Without the reliability of our data and processes, errors can occur in payment and prescribing systems which could have serious impact on our ability to provide our services.
A recent example of impactful work was my involvement in a joint initiative with SPPG and multiple hospice ciphers. There was a need to establish a permanent process to ensure robust governance around the allocation of multiple cipher numbers for use by Non-Medical Prescribers within Community Hospice Teams across NI.
This piece of work makes a real difference to patient care, by reducing the burden for a family during a distressing time. These Prescribers are able to have their own prescription pad and can provide the medication to those who are in need in a timely manner, as well as taking the pressure off the system by reducing unnecessary admissions into secondary care settings.
I also lead a uniquely all women team, navigating the challenges of an evolving workplace together. Over recent years, we have faced significant pressures, yet the way we support each other and show resilience through adversity is something I am incredibly proud of. As a small team, it’s easy to underestimate the scale of our contribution — but across HSC, many outcomes depend on the dedication of teams like ours, working quietly but critically behind the scenes.
Thank you Katy for the Difference you make.