Noticeboard

IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND AN APPOINTMENT, PLEASE LET US KNOW. In August 2024 there were 17 GP appointments and 83 treatment room/clinic appointments which were not kept by patients. The missed appointments with our nurses amounted to 16 hours and 20 minutes!

We will shortly be contacting patients who are eligible for an RSV vaccination. Patients aged 75-80 may be eligible. You will be contacted by SMS or letter when we are in a position to offer this vaccination.

Patients who are aged 65 and over as at 31st March 2024 are eligible for a Pneumococcal Vaccination. Also eligible are patients aged under 65 who have underlying health conditions. For most patients this is a once only dose. We are currently in the process of inviting eligible patients who will receive this invitation by text or letter. The text will be from "your GP surgery".

SHINGLES VACCINES: Eligible patients: aged 65 (as at 1st September 2023), Date of Birth: 02/09/57 to 01/09/58; patients who are aged 70 (as at 1st September 2023) Date of Birth: 02/09/52 to 01/09/53 and patients aged 50+ who are classed as Immunocompromised due to medication, treatment or medical condition. Patients aged 71-79 who have not previously been vaccinated, remain eligible for the vaccine. We have vaccines in stock if anyone eligible would like to receive one, please contact reception to arrange an appointment.

When requesting prescriptions, please remember that the surgery is closed weekends and Bank/Public holidays, therefore requests for repeat prescriptions will not be actioned until we re-open. You should allow at least 2 working days for processing of weekend requests, and up to 3 working days for requests made when the surgery is closed for longer than the weekend.

We have a Physiotherapist, Mental Health Practitioner and a Social Worker based in the practice who may be a first point of contact for patients.

The Department of Health has developed a “My Waiting Times NI” webpage. This is an information webpage hosted on the HSC website: https://online.hscni.net/my-waiting-times-ni/

Patients in Northern Ireland can access the current average waiting times for outpatient assessments for elective care services within each Trust. The webpage will be updated every month to ensure that users have access to timely, standardised waiting time information. FAQs have also been developed and linked on the webpage to improve the users’ experience and understanding of the information provided.

We have recently implemented some changes in the way the practice operates. Between 9am and 2pm daily (with the exception of Wednesday which will be 9am - 11.30am),we will deal with requests for routine appointments and patient enquiries. After this time we will only be accepting emergency calls, calls from other Healthcare Professionals, and providing test results.

Did you know if you are registered for online services, you can request repeat prescriptions AND book GP appointments through our website? Contact reception for further details.

We have introduced a text messaging service to contact patients, message will state "from your GP surgery". If you do NOT want us to contact you by this method, please contact reception.

For everyday health conditions such as: Acne, Athlete's Foot, Diarrhoea, Haemorrhoids, Headlice, Groin Infection, Threadworms, Vaginal Thrush, Earwax, Mouth Ulcers, Oral Thrush, Scabies and Verrucae you can obtain advice and FREE treatment from your local pharmacy under the "Pharmacy First" scheme. You do not need to contact the surgery.

For young people aged 11-19 a new Text-a-Nurse service has been launched. This is a secure, confidential and anonymous service which 11-19 years olds can contact for advice on: emotional health and wellbeing, stress and anxiety, self-harm, alcohol and drugs, body image, smoking, bullying, sexual health, Covid-19 related worry and general health issues. Service is available Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm during both term time and school holidays. Contact number for Northern Trust area is: 07480 635 982

For information on Corona Virus, visit www.pha.site/coronavirus

Public Health Agency, 12–22 Linenhall Street, Belfast BT2 8BS. www.publichealth.hscni.net

IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND AN APPOINTMENT, PLEASE LET US KNOW

Thank you for your participation in our recent survey. We are delighted to announce that 98% of patients surveyed are extremely likely or likely to recommend us. We will endeavour to action any suggestions where possible. Sincere thanks for all the kind comments.

Practice Policies

Confidentiality & Medical Records

Locked blue folder The practice complies with data protection and access to medical records legislation. Identifiable information about you will be shared with others in the following circumstances:

To provide further medical treatment for you e.g. from district nurses and hospital services.
To help you get other services e.g. from the social work department. This requires your consent.
When we have a duty to others e.g. in child protection cases anonymised patient information will also be used at local and national level to help the Health Board and Government plan services e.g. for diabetic care.

If you do not wish anonymous information about you to be used in such a way, please let us know.

Reception and administration staff require access to your medical records in order to do their jobs. These members of staff are bound by the same rules of confidentiality as the medical staff.

Freedom of Information

Information about the General Practioners and the practice required for disclosure under this act can be made available to the public. All requests for such information should be made to the practice manager.

Access to Records

In accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and Access to Health Records Act, patients may request to see their medical records. Such requests should be made through the practice manager and may be subject to an administration charge. No information will be released without the patient consent unless we are legally obliged to do so.

Complaints

Customer service form We make every effort to give the best service possible to everyone who attends our practice.

However, we are aware that things can go wrong resulting in a patient feeling that they have a genuine cause for complaint. If this is so, we would wish for the matter to be settled as quickly, and as amicably, as possible.

To pursue a complaint please contact the practice manager who will deal with your concerns appropriately. Further written information is available regarding the complaints procedure from reception.

Violence Policy

The NHS operate a zero tolerance policy with regard to violence and abuse and the practice has the right to remove violent patients from the list with immediate effect in order to safeguard practice staff, patients and other persons. Violence in this context includes actual or threatened physical violence or verbal abuse which leads to fear for a person’s safety. In this situation we will notify the patient in writing of their removal from the list and record in the patient’s medical records the fact of the removal and the circumstances leading to it.