Our vaccines have now arrived in the surgery and we will running vaccine clinics on 4th, 5th, 10th and 24th October.  All eligible patients will receive either a letter or a text invite.  The groups that will receive an invite are:

Please contact the surgery by email on enquiries.z00053@gp.hscni.net or telephone 02890243593 to arrange an appointment.

https://bso.hscni.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Pharmacy-First-Minor-Ailments-Poster-A4-High-Res.pdf

https://bso.hscni.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Pharmacy-First-UTI-Poster-A4-HR.pdf

We would encourage patients not to ring the surgery to request repeat prescriptions.  Please register for Online Services on this website or if you are having issues with this facility please email prescriptions.z00053@gp.hscni.net 48 hours notice must be given and we would ask that you do not ring reception to see if they have been issued.

DNA AND APPOINTMENT REMINDER POLICY FOR FALLS ROAD SURGERY

Introduction to “Did not Attend” appointments.

“Did Not Attend” (DNA) is when the patient does not turn up for the appointment and does not contact the surgery in advance to cancel/change appointment.

Falls Road Surgery is committed to ensuring that the best possible service is provided to all patients registered with the practice.

The “Did Not Attend” (DNA) patient takes the appointment slot of another patient who could have attended.  The effect of this is an increase in the waiting time for appointments.

• The time and personnel required to follow-up and rebook DNA patients diverts practice staff from other duties and there a waste of resources.
• DNA’s increase costs, reduce efficiency and decrease practice productivity.

Policy

A monthly audit will be performed to identify patients who have DNA’d in the previous month.  If a patient fails to attend three pre-booked appointments within a three-month period, an informal warning letter will be sent to the patient advising them how to cancel/change any future appointments.

If the patient fails to attend another appointment, a formal warning letter will be sent reminding them that a further recurrence within the next 12 months will result in them being removed from the practice list.

If the patient fails to attend a third appointment, the patient will be removed from the Practice list.

Warning letters are valid for a period of 12 months, removal based on warning letters greater than 12 months old will be invalid – in this case a further warning, a period of grace will be required.

You may have heard about an increase in the number of measles cases in England and similar outbreaks in other countries in Europe. Although we currently do not have a measles outbreak in Northern Ireland, measles is highly infectious and we can’t be too careful. This note is to advise you how to protect your child and others.

Measles can cause very serious illness

Measles usually causes a runny nose, red eyes, cough, high temperature and rash. It can also cause complications including ear infections, diarrhoea, pneumonia and convulsions. Very serious complications, such as inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) are rare, but can be fatal. 

Measles spreads very easily

Measles is one of the most infectious diseases known. You can catch measles if you spend 15 minutes in the same room with someone who has the disease, or even less time if you are in direct contact. The measles virus is spread through the air and in tiny droplets that come out of the nose and mouth of an infected person.

MMR vaccine provides safe and effective protection against measles, mumps and rubella

The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine has been shown across the world to be a safe and effective way of preventing measles. It can protect your child and others against measles infection and potential serious consequences.

What you can do now

In light of the continuing measles activity, we strongly recommend that you arrange for your child to have the first and second dose of MMR vaccine now. Two doses of MMR vaccine offer the best way to protect your child against measles, mumps and rubella.   

If you are under 26 and have not received your MMR vaccines - you can book an appointment to have your MMR vaccines in the surgery or a Trust based clinic which you can find under www.nidirect.gov.uk

To make an appointment for you or a child to have the vaccine please contact the practice on 028 90243593 or email reception.z00053@gp.hscni.net and we will contact you with an appointment.

We do hope you will take this opportunity to ensure you or a child is fully protected. 

You are now invited to make an appointment for the free flu vaccine if you are over the age of 50. Please ring the surgery after 11am or email reception.z00053@gp.hscni.net and we shall contact you with an appointment time.

You may have heard through the media that the Flu / Covid 19 season has been brought forward to ensure patients are adequately protected as we approach the Winter season. With this in mind, we have provided details of all patients eligible for their vaccines and dates we are planning on holding our clinics. We encourage all patients within these groups to get vaccinated. 

This year we will also be able to give one single dose to patients that have not received any primary doses of Covid-19 vaccination.

Our Clinic Dates are as follows:

Over 75 years Thursday 28th September (afternoon) you will receive an appointment letter with an appointment time

65-74 years of age Saturday 30th September (morning) you will receive an appointment letter with an appointment time

Clinically at risk 16 - <65 Saturday 30th September you will receive a letter or a text invite and asked to book an appointment on 02890243593 or email enquiries.z00053@gp.hscni.net

Carers and close contacts of immunosuppressed patients aged 18-64 Saturday 30th September you will receive a letter or a text invite and asked to book an appointment on 02890243593 or email enquiries.z00053@gp.hscni.net

Pre-school 2-4 yr Thursday 5th October 2023 you will receive a letter or a text invite on 02890243593 or email enquiries.z00053@gp.hscni.net

16-17 years in clinically at risk group Thursday 5th October 2023 you will receive a letter or a text invite on 02890243593 or email enquiries.z00053@gp.hscni.net

6mths to 2 years (FLU only) Thursday 6th October 2023 you will receive a letter or a text invite on 02890243593 or email enquiries.z00053@gp.hscni.net

We apologise if you are trting to get through to the surgery, but there is a fault.  The telephone company have been made aware of this and are looking into this urgently.

In the meantime, please contact us by email if you can to reception.z00053@gp.hscni.net and we will contact you.

Falls Road Surgery 

COVID SPRING BOOSTER 2023

Patients Entitled to the Covid Spring Booster

• Anyone over the age of 75 – they will receive a letter with an appointment date 

• Patients immunosuppressed 18 – 74 they will receive a letter / text from us to invite them for a vaccine here (they will not be given an appointment but they can make one on anyone of the two vaccine dates) 

• Children immunosuppressed 5 – 17 they will be entitled to a booster but they will need to book with NI Direct or with the Belfast Trust vaccine hubs. We shall forward a letter which they can be shown as proof of vaccine eligibilty at the Trust vaccine sites.

Our COVID Vaccine Clinics will be held on:-

 Thursday 20 April 2023 afternoon from 1:30

 Thursday 27 April 2023 afternoon from 1:30

The surgery will be closed at 1:30 on Friday 7 April.  Dr Colgan can be contacted in a medical emergency on 07306235140

Beldoc will cover out of hours and can be contacted in the case of a medical emergency on 02890744447.

The surgery will remain closed on Monday 10th April and Tuesday 11th April and Beldoc can be contacted in the case of a medical emergency.

Unfortunatley we are experiencing problems with our telephone system.  The surgery is closed today and will reopen as normal on Monday 20th March 2023.  If you require emergency assistance, please contact BELDOC on 02890744447

The surgery will be closed on St Patrick's Day.  In the case of a medical emergency, please contact BELDOC on 02890744447.  Thank you

Interpreting service for British Sign Language (BSL) and Irish Sign Language (ISL) users in Northern Ireland

This service is a free remote interpreting service for British Sign Language (BSL) and Irish Sign Language (ISL) users in Northern Ireland, via the SignVideo App and Video Relay Service.

It provides the Deaf community in NI with access to:

• NHS111 services during the COVID-19 pandemic via a video relay system.
• All other Health and Social Care services including GPs via either a video relay system or video remote interpreting.

Access to NHS111 during the COVID-19 pandemic

To contact NHS111, please visit: https://www.signvideo.co.uk/nhs111ni

This is a Video Relay System that enables Deaf people to telephone NHS111 via a remote BSL or ISL interpreter.

How it works:

• The Deaf person contacts an Interpreter via SignVideo app using a smartphone or tablet, or via the secure video link using a PC.
• Once connected, the interpreter telephones NHS111 on the Deaf person’s behalf.

Access to all other Health and Social Care services

To contact all other Health and Social Care services please visit: signvideo.co.uk/hscni

This service can be used to contact:

• Northern Ireland GPs and GP Out of Hours Services
• Hospitals for inpatient or outpatient queries (including independent / private hospitals)
• All health services – e.g. a dentist, optician, optometrist, community pharmacy, etc.
• All social care services – e.g. a social work team, day centre, residential or nursing home (including independent / private care facilities commissioned by HSC), etc.
• Ambulance services
• The Northern Ireland COVID19 Community Helpline: 0808 802 0020

This enables Deaf people to communicate with a Health and Social Care service provider via a either a Video Relay or Video Remote Interpreting service.

We are aware that Group A Streptococcus Infections and Scarlet Fever are circulating at a level that is higher than normal at this time of year.

We appreciate the concern and distress that the media surrounding this is causing for parents and carers in an Autumn / Winter season where we are already experiencing higher levels of seasonal infections. We would seek to reassure parents and carers that for the vast majority of children, upper respiratory tract infections are mild and self-limiting illnesses. The bacteria usually causes a mild infection producing a mild infection producing sore throats or scarlet fever that can be easily treated with antibiotics.  In very rare circumstances, this bacteria can get into the bloodstream and cause serious illness - called invasive Group A Strep.  This is still uncommon; however, it is important that parents are on the lookout for symptoms and see a doctor as quickly as possible so that their child can be treated and we can stop the infection becoming serious.

Scarlet fever is usually a mild illness, but it is highly infectious.  Look out for symptoms in your child, which include a sore throat, headache and fever along with a fine, pinkish or red body rash.  Contact your GP if you suspect your child has scarlet fever, early treatment of antimitotic is important to reduce the risk of complications such as pneumonia or a bloodstream infection. 

As a parent contact your GP if:

• Your child is getting worse
• Your child is feeding or eating much less than normal
• your child has a dry nappy for 12 hours or more - signs of dehydration
• your baby is under 3 months of age and has temperature of 38 degrees C or is older than 3 months and has a temperature of 39 degrees or higher
• Your child is very tired or irritable

Call 999 or go to A&E

• your child is having difficulty breathing - you may notice grunting noises or their tummy sucking under the ribs
• There are pauses when your child breathes
• Your child's skin, tongue or lips are blue
• your child is floppy and will not wake up or stay awake.

For further information and advice on Scarlet Fever: www.nhs.uk/conditions/scarlet-fever

The FLU and COVID 19 booster clinics will recommence from this month. (COVID 19 boosters - subject to delivery)   We have a new information tab on our home screen that will be available this week that will give you information on our clinics available and for which cohort of patients.  We will be sending a letter out to our patients over 65 years of age with an appointment date. If you can't make your appoinment please contact reception on 02890243593 or preferably email enquiries.z00053@gp.hscni.net and we will reschedule your appoinment for another date.

All other eligible groups will be sent an invite text or letter (Please update your contact details if your mobile number has changed) this can be done on this website  (on the home screen click the drop down menu, select patient records and then update your personal details) Once you receive your text you can use this website on the COVID-19 / Flu Vaccine page located on the home page to request an appointment. We will contact you to arrange this. All clinic dates according to each group of patients can be found on a drop down list of dates after you enter your name, telephone number etc. 

If you have any difficulties accessing the form, we would prefer if you emailed us to request an appointment on enquiries.z00053@gp.hscni.net

Available dates are:

Thursday 22 September 2:00 - 5:00pm Patients over 75

Thursday 29 Sepetmber 2:00 - 5:00pm Patients over 75

Saturday 15 October 9:00 - 4:30pm Patients over 65 in am and all over 50 and clinically at risk groups in the afternoon

Saturday 22 October 9:00 - 4:30pm Patients over 50 and clinically at risk groups

Saturday 30 October 9:00 - 4:30pm Patients over 50 and clinically at risk groups.

Pre-school children aged 2 years or more and not attending primary shool yet ie DOB range of 02 July 2018 to 01 September 2022 can email the surgery to make an appointment request during routine treatment room surgery hours.

When coming to the practice, please remember to wear a face covering to help protect our staff and other patients.  Please do not attend the surgery if you have a temperature or if you feel unwell. 

Dr Colgan 

There will be work on our telephone system this afternoon.  If you have a medical emergency please contact Dr Colgan on 07306235140.  Thank you and we apolgise for any inconvenience this may cause.  Dr Colgan

http://help.visionhealth.co.uk/Patient_Services_-_Patient_Help_Centre/v1.7/Content/Home.htm

We would be grateful if you are currently having issues with online repeat precriptions to click on the link above for details on everthing you need to know regarding this Service - Please note that currently you only have access to ordering repeat prescriptions. 

Once you request registration details for online services through www.fallsroadsurgery.co.uk website or by collecting and returning a form to the Practice, you will receive an email from us with your registration letter attached - PLEASE CHECK YOUR SPAM FOLDER  as sometimes this email may appear there.

Go to  www.patient-services.co.uk/register  and follow the instructions by creating an account with the information on your registration letter. 

You will also receive an email from Patient Services asking you to verify your email address - your email must be verified also check your spam folder for their email. 

If you continue to have issues registering to Patient Servces for techncial issues only - Follow the link to the Help section on the Patient Services website www.patient-services.co.uk  and under Troubleshooting, scroll to the question -  I am having technical issues - what do I do?  Click on the contact website support link and enter your details. The Patient Services team will contact you, please remember this is a seperate technical team to Falls Road Surgery.  For all clinical/medical enquires relating to your online repeat prescriptions contact Falls Road Surgery 02890243593

Many thanks for your patience and co-operation regarding this new service.

Dr Brendan Colgan