Easter

Welcome!

Scotch Quarter Practice Opening Hours

 Monday to Friday: 0830 - 1230 and 1330 - 1730

Closed Saturday and Sunday

 Contact numbers:

Appointments - 02893315835

Prescriptions - 02893315837 (0900-1230)

Enquiries - 02893315955

Emergencies - 02893315834

Out of hours contact: Dalriada Urgent Care on 02825663500

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MMR Catch-up Campaign

A number of people have recently had measles in Northern Ireland. In the past, high levels of immunisation uptake have provided protection, but unimmunised people are at risk and can catch and spread measles.

• Measles is caused by a very infectious virus giving a rash and high fever. It can also be very serious. Adults are likely to be more ill than children and for longer. Someone with measles usually has to spend about five days in bed and be off school or work for ten days. Adults are also more susceptible to complications.

• Complications of measles can include ear and chest infections, fits, diarrhoea, encephalitis (infection of the brain), and brain damage. About 1 in 2,500 to 1 in 5,000 individuals with measles is likely to die.

If you have missed one or both of your MMR vaccinations contact your GP surgery to arrange an appointment.

For further information see link below:

https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/sites/default/files/2023-09/protect%20yourself%20protect%20others.pdf

Shingles Vaccination -

(currently suspended due to short supply from manufacturer)

You are eligible for the vaccine if you are aged 65 or 70 years

(i.e. born between 2/9/1957 and 1/9/58 or 2/9/1952 and 1/9/1953)

or if you are aged 50 years or over and are immunosuppressed. 

Patients who are 71 years on 1/9/23 but not yet had their 80th birthday and have not previously been vaccinated are also entitled to the vaccine. You may also be offered a vaccine to protect against pneumococcal disease at the same time.

Further information on the shingles vaccine can be found by clicking this link -

https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/publications/shingles-vaccine-help-protect-you-pain-shingles

*Patients can hear an audio recording of whether they are eligible for the vaccine by telephoning 028 9536 2000*

 Seasonal Influenza Vaccinations

All eligible patients within the 50 to 64 year age group have been contacted and invited for vaccination. If you have missed your appointment, we still have some vaccines available if you would contact the surgery to book an appointment.

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Childhood Immunisations

         

Childhood vaccination uptake rates have been declining in Northern Ireland. All children are entitled to vaccinations from 8 weeks throughout their childhood. Please click on the link below for further information on the importance of having your child vaccinated against common illnesses.  

For babies under one year:

Immunisations up to One Year

For pre-school children:

Pre-school Immunisations

                                          Pneumococcal Vaccinations

Pneumococcal vaccinations are available to patients aged over 65 years - please contact the surgery if you have not yet had one.

What is Pneumococcal Infection?

Pneumococcus bacteria may be carried in the nose and throat of healthy individuals, without causing any symptoms. However, in a small proportion of infected individuals it can cause life threatening illness, such as:

• pneumonia

• septicaemia (blood poisoning)

• and meningitis (inflammation of the brain).

The germs that cause pneumococcal infection are spread by coughing and sneezing. They are most common in winter months.

Who is at risk: adults aged 65 or over and children and adults with certain long-term health conditions, such as a serious heart or kidney conditions

Further information can be found by clicking the link below

http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/conditions/pneumonia

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See link at bottom of page to amend contact details.

 

TELEPHONE TRIAGE ARRANGEMENTS  

Like many GP surgeries, we operate a telephone triage system each morning. We have two available lines: 02893315835 and 02893315955 from 0830 until 1000 (or until all triage slots are used).

To ensure patient safety is maintained, there is a limited number of slots daily so the clinicians are not dealing with unmanageable numbers of calls. 

Should you require URGENT MEDICAL ADVICE at any time, please do not hesitate to contact us.  

We also have triage booking slots for patients registered for online access. These slots will be available daily - when booking, you should provide as much information as possible to enable clinicians to assess the priority of these appointments.

You will either be contacted by a GP or a member of the admin team with further advice. Please ensure you are available to take a call back; if you miss the call you will be required to phone back to the practice and will go to end of the triage list again OR you may be requested to phone back the following day. The call will come from a private number.

When you phone the surgery you will be advised of the following:

  • If the call is received BEFORE 10.00 am, and the quota has not been reached for that morning, then you may expect a call back before the end of the day, however if the call is received AFTER 10.00 am then you will be asked to ring back the following morning except if requiring URGENT MEDICAL ADVICE.

  • Patients expecting a call back any morning should be available to take a call from 8.30 onwards; the call will show as a private number or No Caller ID. If you do not answer your phone a message will be left, where possible, but we will not phone back and you will go to end of the triage call list.

  • We will only call ONCE!

  • Patients cannot specify a time to be called. Online triage slots will not be made at the specific time booked. It may not necessarily be the specified GP you request who calls you back.

  • During particularly busy times, you may hear an engaged tone; this is because we are dealing with other calls in as efficient and timely manner as possible.


The prescription line is open between 9.00 am to 12.30 pm daily on 02893315837.


REGISTER NOW FOR ONLINE SERVICES:

You can order repeat prescriptions, check on booked appointments and book online triage appointments

Send an email requesting to be set up for Online Access to Reception.Z00387@gp.hscni.net 

We will ask you to complete and return an online registration form; on receipt we will forward a Verification Code for you to complete the registration process.  You can also request a form via this website by simply clicking on 'Contact Details' at the bottom of the home page.

The online appointments booking is not available currently as all calls are triaged by telephone as detailed above.

You can order repeat medication as they become due; requests for other/urgent medication will be considered but it will remain the responsibility of the patient to check if these requests have been issued by the Doctor.

The Online Messaging service is available to you on the same login page.  This facility can be used to send NON-URGENT messages or requests to the surgery.  PLEASE NOTE THAT APPOINTMENTS CANNOT BE BOOKED USING THIS FACILITY.

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Scotch Quarter Practice has a robust Complaints Procedure, a copy of which is available to download on this website under the section 'Further Information' and then 'Practice Policies' or can be obtained from Reception.  Patients are encouraged to discuss, either formally or informally, any issues which they might have with their treatment in the Practice.

The use of Social Media to make derogatory comments about either our services or individual staff members will not be tolerated and may result in the immediate removal from our Practice List.

We regularly monitor all posts on social media and would encourage any patient to screen shot and/or inform us of any such negative posts.

PATIENT NOTICE

The Practice will be closed on Easter Monday 1st April and Easter Tuesday 2nd April 2024 .

If you have an urgent medical condition please contact Dalriada Urgent Care on 028 25663500. 

We will re-open as normal at 8.30 am the following morning.

The Practice will be closed on the following date for staff training from 13.30 to 5.00 pm:

12th June 2024

Emergency cover will be provided by phoning 028 9331 5834

Your Health in Safe Hands

The team here at Scotch Quarter Practice want to provide all patients with a professional and caring healthcare experience in friendly and personal surroundings. With discretion and confidentiality guaranteed your welfare is safe, secure and in good hands.  If you have any suggestions for improving our services you can drop us a note here in  Contact Details  or speak to one of the reception staff.
(Site updated 19/03/2024)
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