Information

Appointments

Appointment System (introduced 21st October 2019)

If you need medical advice please phone the surgery on 028 9064 7158 between 8.30am and up to 10.30am. A GP will phone you back and agree with you how best to manage your condition.

You will be required to give a brief description of the reason for the call to the receptionist.

You can also request a call-back online via Patient Access.  Please speak to a receptionist if not already registered for this service.

There will be no telephone triage from 12 or 3.30 and no routine bookable appointments from 21st October 2019.

We thank you for your co-operation.

New Repeat Line Telephone Number

028 9694 4000

Repeat Prescription Requests

***With effect from 1^st June 2018, for quality and safety purposes Reception staff will not be permitted to accept requests for Repeat Medication over the main telephone line. ***

Please ensure that you know the name and the dosage of the medication when ordering. Any discrepancy may mean a delay in issuing your Prescription.

Repeat Prescriptions can be ordered in one of the following ways:

1. Online via Patient Access (Practice preferred method – please speak to a receptionist to register for online services or if you do not remember your login details).
2. Telephone via our dedicated Repeat Line Messaging Service- please telephone 028 9064 7000 8.00am – 9.00pm Monday – Thursday, 8.00am – 6.00pm Friday.
3. Post to surgery (please do not bring hand written requests to the surgery) If you wish for your script to be posted to you please send in a Stamped Addressed Envelope.

Collecting your Prescription

You must now select a local chemist to collect your prescription on your behalf. Please allow 3 working days from time of ordering to collect with your chemist. Please check if your chemist collects from the surgery regularly. If your chemist does not collect you will need to make arrangements for your scripts to be posted (send in Stamped Addressed Envelopes).

Remember that pharmacists cannot supply medicines without a prescription, so when ordering, please leave enough time for the pharmacist to collect your prescriptions and dispense your medicines.

We no longer confirm if Prescriptions are ready by Telephone – our Receptionists are not permitted to give this information out over the phone.

Prescriptions from Doctor Telephone Calls

Prescriptions that are issued after speaking to a Doctor via a Telephone Call that are acute urgent items can be faxed through to your local chemist. This will be arranged during your consultation.

Home Visits

Please make every effort to attend the surgery if possible. If you feel unable to attend the surgery, please let us know by contacting the surgery before 10.00am if possible. The receptionist will take brief details. A doctor may then speak to you to give advice on immediate treatment and/or to ask for more details, and thereby decide on appropriate management. Please do not abuse this service: it is reserved for housebound patients and in cases of medical emergency.

Temporary Residents

Holidaymakers and anyone staying or working temporarily in the area and in urgent need of medical attention or advice can make an appointment to see a doctor. You must bring photographic ID to any appointment.

Test Results

Results of blood, urine, x-ray, MRI, CT and ultrasound tests are available by phoning the main telephone line on 028 9064 7158 after 11am.

The results of these tests are entered on the practice computer system and an appropriate message is left by the doctor for the patient. Patients are expected to telephone for the result of tests. Please do this even if you are seeing the doctor again shortly and you would normally be happy to wait for your results until then. This will help us greatly to reduce unnecessary administration. To ensure confidentiality, results will only be given to the patient to whom the result relates. Results for children (under 18) may be given to a parent or guardian.

Change of Details

If you change your name/address/telephone number etc, please notify our reception staff, so that our records can be kept up to date.

Registering with the Practice

If you live in our practice area and wish to register with the practice, please attend the reception and fill in New Patient Registration forms. Please bring your medical card if possible. You will then be able to make a registration appointment with the Healthcare Assistant. Applicants are advised that the practice does not discriminate on the grounds of race, gender, social class, religion, sexual orientation, appearance, disability or medical condition.

Emergencies Outside Opening Hours

Lunchtime – Monday to Friday (12.30 – 2.00pm)
Ring the surgery and you will be transferred to the on-call doctor for emergencies only.

Evenings / Nights, Weekends and Bank holidays
Emergency cover during these hours is provided by the South & East Belfast Out-of-hours service based at the Knockbreda Centre (telephone – 028 9079 6220). The Eastern Health and Social Services Board is responsible for commissioning this service.

Automated Kiosk – Self Check In

We will no longer check Patients in at the front desk and ask that you use the Automated Kiosk. Staff will prompt you to use the Kiosk and ask for your cooperation. If there is an issue with you checking in at the Kiosk please join the queue on that occasion and a member of staff will be happy to assist.

By reducing the number of Patients waiting at the front desk to check in we can deal with Patients booking appointments and collecting scripts in a timelier manner.

The Kiosk is located in the main Reception Waiting Area

Using the Kiosk – Enter your Date of Birth – Day/Month/Year and first initial of your surname

Register for Online Services Today

We understand that our Patients have busy schedules and can often struggle to get the time to contact the Surgery. Online registration makes this easy. You can:

• Book Routine Appointments
• Order Repeat Prescriptions

Please speak to a Receptionist today who can register you instantly for this service. (Please bring Photographic ID with you).

Disabled Access

Suitable access is available for wheelchair users and disabled persons. If you require being seen by a doctor on the ground floor please try and let the reception know at the time of booking your appointment.

Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000

As defined under the FOI Act, the practice has produced a Publication Scheme. Copies are available; please ask at reception.

A&E Attendance

Is your A&E Attendance Appropriate?

Many of the attendances by patients registered at this practice at A&E could be avoided.

Are you aware that there are alternatives available?

Did you know that:

Our reception team is available from 8:30 am to 6:00 pm every weekday. We offer same day appointments where there is a clinical need. We also offer same day telephone appointments if preferred. This is often quicker than attending A&E.
GPs can, where appropriate, access suitable alternative pathways on your behalf. GP’s will also offer treatment or advice on minor injuries.

For certain conditions, the GP may advise that an A&E attendance is appropriate.

SEBDOC (the local out-of-hours service) is available outside of surgery times and at weekends and you will be given medical advice over the phone, offered the opportunity to attend the Knockbreda Centre for a consultation or where if necessary, a GP will make a domiciliary visit. Tel: 02890796220.

Many everyday illnesses can be managed at home with a well-stocked medicine cabinet.
For medicines advice and minor ailments, you can have a chat with your pharmacist. Pharmacists are qualified to give you free, expert advice and you don’t need an appointment.

So before you attend A&E please stop to think – is this the most appropriate way for me to be treated?

Complaints

Please Click Here to Download our Complaints Procedure & Form.

Privacy Notice

Your information, privacy and the Law – How we use your medical records

The use and sharing of personal information forms an essential part of the provision of health and care, benefiting individual patients, often necessary for the effective functioning of health and social services and sometimes necessary in the public interest. Nevertheless your doctor has a strong legal and ethical duty to protect patient information and all information you share with your doctor is kept confidential.

 

• This practice is committed to observing the laws on data protection and confidentiality concerning your medical record and all uses and sharing of your information.
• We share information about you with health professionals who are involved in providing you with care and treatment. This is on a need to know basis and, normally, event by event.
• Some of your health information (including your name, address, allergies and medications) is automatically copied to the Northern Ireland Electronic Care Record.

• Some information about you is shared with national screening campaigns such as Flu and Diabetes eye screening.
• Information about you in non-identifiable form is used to manage the NHS and make payments.
• Information about you in non-identifiable form is used to check the quality of care provided by the NHS.
• Information about you in non-identifiable form may be used for medical research. Where identifiable information may be required we will first seek you consent.

• We will share information when the law requires us to do, for instance when we are inspected or reporting certain illnesses or safeguarding vulnerable people.

For more information please ask to speak to the Practice Manager.

Practice Leaflet

Practice Leaflet