- New patients wanting to join the practice list:
- Computer
- Non - NHS Work
- Arranging Appointments
- Speaking To A Doctor / Nurse
- Requests For Emergency Visits
- Requests For Home Visits
- Out Of Hours - Emergency Calls
- Repeat Prescriptions
- Test Results
- Services
- Change Of Personal Details
- Medical Students
- Practice Manager & Reception Staff
- Disabled Patients
- Comments & Complaints
- Useful Telephone Numbers
- Patient Rights & Responsibilities
- And in return we expect you to:
New patients wanting to join the practice list:
The practice does not discriminate on the grounds of:
• Race
• Gender
• Social class
• Age
• Religion
• Sexual orientation
• Appearance
• Disability or medical condition
The practice accepts patients within a 6 mile radius of the health centre.
Newly registering patients will be advised to make a registration appointment with the practice nurse for a new patient medical. This forms an important part of your registration into the practice. Please ensure that you attend this appointment as new patients are not usually accepted into the practice until they have had the new patient registration medical.
Computer
The practice is fully computerised and certain information is held about you on our system which is strictly confidential. This information is covered under the Data Protection Act 1988.
Non – NHS Work
We also provide a range of non-NHS services including medicals, reports, examinations for employers, solicitors, insurance companies, PSV, HGV and elderly driving licences for which we charge the standard fee recommended by the British Medical Association. Please note a charge is usually made for completing passport applications, holiday cancellation forms and insurance certificates.
Arranging Appointments
Surgeries are operated by an appointment system for the Doctors and Practice Nurse.
Appointments can be made in person at reception or by telephoning the practice.
Telephone Triaging will be used if an URGENT APPOINTMENT is requested Owing to the number of missed appointments it has been necessary to implement the following policy. If you miss 2 appointments we will write to you asking why you were unable to notify the practice. If you fail to provide a valid and acceptable reason and miss a 3rd appointment you may be asked to leave the practice and find another GP.
Speaking To A Doctor / Nurse
If you wish to speak to a Doctor please telephone the surgery and the doctor on telephone duty will deal with your call as soon as possible.
Requests For Emergency Visits
These may be made at any time – however, you must make the receptionist aware of the urgency of the call and you shall be transferred to the Doctor.
Requests For Home Visits
The practice should be notified before 10.30 am.
Out Of Hours – Emergency Calls
The practice is part of Western Urgent Care. In an emergency between 5pm & 6pm & 8.30am & 9am, Monday – Friday inclusive, please telephone 0784 516 4442. At all other times including weekends telephone 0870 606 2288. Please note that this service is only for cases which could not reasonably wait until the next surgery.
Repeat Prescriptions
Patients on regular medication should contact the surgery giving 24 hours notice of their requirement (excluding weekends and bank holidays). It is suggested that requests for repeat prescriptions should be made after 11am as phone lines are often busy.
Test Results
Results of investigations, eg: blood tests, x-rays, etc, are available by telephoning the surgery. Results will not be given to another person unless we have your prior permission. In urgent cases only, the doctor will contact the patient. When enquiring for a result please telephone after 11am when results have been received and reported on by the doctor.
Services
The Practice also offers the following services:
• Immunisations & vaccinations
• Minor Surgery
• Maternity Services
• Child Health Surveillance
• Well man
• Chronic Disease Management
• Contraceptive Services
Change Of Personal Details
Please inform the receptionist if you change your name / address / telephone number, so that your records can be amended and kept up to date.
Medical Students
From time to time a senior medical student may accompany one of the doctors. Your help in allowing them to listen and learn would be much appreciated, but you will always be asked if this is acceptable to you.
Practice Manager & Reception Staff
From time to time a senior medical student may accompany one of the doctors. Your help in allowing them to listen and learn would be much appreciated, but you will always be asked if this is acceptable to you.
Disabled Patients
The health care has full disabled access and facilities. There is a lift to all floors. A hearing aid device is available upon request at reception for use during consultations.
Comments & Complaints
The practice welcomes all comments as a means of improving its services.
If you wish to make a suggestion please speak to the receptionist for further details.
The practice runs an in-house complaints procedure. If you have a complaint or concern about the service you have received, please contact the practice manager. We will try our best to resolve matters as quickly as possible.
Useful Telephone Numbers
| Altnagelvin | 02871 345171 |
| Belfast City Hospital | 02890 329241 |
| Diabetes UK | 02890 666646 |
| Erne Hospital | 02866 382000 |
| Tyrone County | 02882 833100 |
| WH&SSB | 02871 860086 |
Patient Rights & Responsibilities
- You have the right to receive accurate and easily understood information about your health care, your health care professionals and health care facilities. If you have a physical or mental disability, or just don’t understand something, assistance will be provided so you can make informed health care decisions.
- You have the right to care providers that is sufficient to provide you with access to appropriate high-quality health care.
- You have the right to know all your treatment options and to participate in decisions about your care. Parents, guardians, family members, or other individuals that you designate can represent you if you cannot make your own decisions.
- You have the right to considerate, respectful and non-discriminatory care from you doctors and other health care providers.
And in return we expect you to:
- Arrive on time for an appointment.
- Be thoughtful of other patients and staff.
- Cancel appointments in good time if unable to attend so that we can offer it to someone else.
- Please ask for home visits by the doctor only when the person is too ill to visit surgery.
- We ask that you treat the Doctors and practice staff, who are there to help you with courtesy and respect.
- Remember, you are responsible for your own health and the health of your children. We will give you our professional help and advice. Please act upon it.
