Triage appointments

A triage appointment system is now in operation.  The receptionist will take your details including a telephone number and a brief description of your symptoms or query. The doctor will ring you back and may offer an appointment on the same day if this is needed.

Leaving Telephone Messages

If you do not need to see a doctor you can still leave a message. Messages are taken between 08:30 – 11:30 and this will be dealt with by the appropriate professional.  Please note that messages can only be taken on a daily basis and that a doctor will not normally be able to call you back.  

Sick Children

Sick children will be seen as soon as possible in the surgery.  This will be quicker than a home visit.  The receptionist will advise on the best time to come.

Practice Nurses

In a number of cases it might be worth considering an appointment with a practice nurse rather than a doctor. Practice nurses are qualified to deal with many conditions and you may be seen more quickly.

Practice Pharmacists

We now have two pharmacists on our practice team (part time).  They will be running some clinics and assisting with the smooth running of our repeat prescribing systems.  Occasionally they may need to get in touch with you about prescriptions.

Cancellations

If you cannot attend an appointment for any reason please inform us as soon as possible in order for us to give the slot to someone else.

Home Visits

If a home visit is requested for someone too ill to come to the surgery, please telephone the surgery before 10:30.  Please give the patient's name, address, telephone number where they can be contacted and a brief description of their symptoms. This means that the most seriously ill patients are visited first.

Please remember that it takes much longer to travel to see you at home and visits will be reserved for those who are housebound or too ill to go out. The doctor will phone you to discuss your request for a house call. Transport difficulties are not an appropriate reason for a home visit.

You can also be visited at home by a community nurse if you are referred by your GP. You should also be visited at home by a health visitor if you have recently had a baby or if you are newly registered with a GP and have a child under five years.

Sickness Certificates

You do not require a doctor's sickness certificate for any illness lasting seven days or less. Your employer may however require you to complete a self-certification form (SC2) which is available from your employer or on the HMRC website.

Evidence that you are sick

If you are sick for more than seven days, your employer can ask you to give them some form of medical evidence to support payment of SSP (statutory sick pay).

It is up to your employer to decide whether you are incapable of work. A medical certificate, now called a 'Statement of Fitness for Work’ (see below) from your doctor is strong evidence that you are sick and would normally be accepted, unless there is evidence to prove otherwise.

You could also provide evidence from someone who is not a medical practitioner, e.g. a dentist. Your employer will decide whether or not this evidence is acceptable. If your employer has any doubts, they may still ask for a medical certificate from your GP.

Statement of Fitness for Work - ’Fit Note'

The 'fit note' was introduced on 6 April 2010. With your employer's support, the note will help you return to work sooner by providing more information about the effects of your illness or injury.

For more information see the DirectGov website (where this information was sourced)

Training Practice

The practice is closely associated with the Department of General Practice, Queen's University Belfast and most of the doctors are involved in teaching. 

You may be asked to participate, but this is on a voluntary basis.