Christmas and New Year Holiday Closure December 2024
The practice will be CLOSED for the Christmas holidays on Wednesday 25th December and Thursday 26th December.
The practice will re-open at 8.30am on Friday 27th December.
The practice will also be CLOSED on Wednesday 1st January 2025, re-opening at 8.30am on Thursday 2nd January 2025.
Emergency out of hours GP cover will be available for any urgent medical emergencies that cannot wait until Friday 27th December. Telephone:
- Sebdoc (Forster green) Out of hours GP : 02890796220
Pharmacy First Sore Throat Service will be available from contracted community pharmacies across Northern Ireland from 1st December.
This service will facilitate the assessment and treatment of people with symptoms of sore throat aged 5 years and over.
For more details contact your local pharmacy.
World Antibiotic Awareness Week (WAAW)18th - 24th November
WAAW aims to increase awareness of global antimicrobial resistance (AMR). We all have an important part to play in limiting antibiotic resistance in order to preserve antibiotics for their intended use; fighting bad bacterial infections.
This winter as colds and flus become more prevalent please remember there are actions you can take to help health workers in preventing Antimicrobial resistance:
- Return unwanted antibiotics to the community pharmacy
- For safe disposal, do not flush down the toilet
- Do not keep antibiotics for future illnesses
- Do not share your antibiotics with friends family or pets
- Taking antibiotics when you don't need them puts you and your family at risk, take your doctor/dentist/pharmacist's advice
- Keep up to date with vaccinations to prevent infections
- The importance of good hand hygiene
Practice Based Training Closure November 2024
The practice will be CLOSED on the afternoon of Wednesday 20th November for staff training. Re-opening 8.30am Thursday 21st November.
As usual, there will be emergency out of hours GP cover still available for any emergencies that cannot wait until Thursday 21st November.
Contact details:
- Emergency doctors on call (from 1pm-6pm) : 07809427776
- From 6pm onwards Sebdoc (Forster green) Out of hours GP : 02890796220
Regional HSC mental health campaign
Regional HSC mental health campaign Public Health Agency (PHA) and Health and Social Care (HSC) organisations have launched this year’s HSC mental health and emotional wellbeing campaign urging people to prioritise workplace mental health.
Between World Suicide Prevention Day (10 September) and World Mental Health Day (10 October), the five Trusts, Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) and PHA are encouraging people to take 10 minutes for mental health self-care using the ‘Take 5 steps to wellbeing’.
The ‘Take 5 steps to wellbeing’ are: Connect, Keep Learning, Be Active, Take Notice and Give.
More information is available at www.mindingyourhead.info
Concerned about your mental health?
If you have worries or concerns about your own mental health and well being, then here are some ways you can find out more and get some help.
Contact your doctor
Your doctor can help you decide what level of support you need and will be able to refer you to other forms of help.
Talk to a friend
Sometimes it can be a relief just to tell someone you are struggling. Your friends care about you and can often offer a different point of view or way of looking at a problem.
Call a HELPLINE
There are a number of free helplines available where you can speak confidentially to trained counsellors. Some of the options are:
| Samaritans Helpline | 0845 7909090 |
| 24/7 Lifeline | 0808 808 8000 |
| 24/7 Contact Youth | 0808 808 8000 |
| CAUSE (Carers Helpline) | 0845 6030291 |
| Child Protection Helpline | 0808 800 5000 |
| Childline Helpline | 0800 1111 |
| Childline NI | 0870 336 2945 |
| No Fear Helpline | 0845 122 8630 |
| OCD-UK | 03332 127 890 |
| No Panic (10am – 10pm daily) | 0808 808 0545 |
Get online
There are a number of good self-help websites on the internet that can offer you advice, help and information. Some of the options are:
Talk to your Occupational Health Service
If you work, your employer may provide an Occupational Health Service, where you can get support and help.
Penicillin Allergy Awareness and Checklist - NI Rollout
The Pharmacy Forum NI will be endorsing he new Penicillin Allergy Checklist for pharmacists and other medical professionals rolling them out NI-wide in the week beginning 23rd September.
The checklist will help pharmacists and other healthcare professionals to diagnose if a patient is allergic to penicillin or not.
In September of last year, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS – responsible for England, Scotland, and Wales) rolled out the new Penicillin Allergy Guidelines and brought media attention to the findings that over 90% of those labelled with a ‘penicillin allergy’ may not be allergic at all.
See Pharmacy Forum NI’s website for further information.
Antibiotic Awareness
Antibiotics are great, but are NOT needed for every infection, and often won't work.
For more information click on the link below and check out the videos...
Common infections
Most common illnesses don’t need antibiotics and can be treated with over-the-counter medicines.
#LivingWellNI
Vaccines 
We are running Flu and Covid vaccine clinics in the surgery on the following dates:
- Wednesday 16th October
- Wednesday 23rd October
- Wednesday 30th October - TBC
Contact the practice after 11AM by telephoning 02890451000 to book your appointment and help protect yourself against winter viruses now.
RSV Vaccine -
The RSV vaccine helps protect against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
RSV is a common cause of coughs and colds. Most people get it several times during their life.
It usually gets better by itself, but in some people (especially babies and older adults) it can cause illnesses such as:
These illnesses can cause serious breathing problems. They may need to be treated in hospital and can be life-threatening.
Getting RSV can also make your symptoms worse if you have a lung condition, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD).
The RSV vaccine helps reduce the risk of serious breathing problems like pneumonia and bronchiolitis.
The RSV vaccine is recommended if:
- you're pregnant – the vaccine is recommended during every pregnancy (from 28 weeks onwards) to help protect your baby after they're born. Please note this should be offered at your antenatal appointments.
- you're aged 75 to 79
If you turned 80 on or after 1 September 2024, you're eligible for the RSV vaccine until 31 August 2025.
Eligible patients will be contacted for their RSV vaccine. If you have not yet had your RSV vaccination and would like to book this please contact the surgery on 02890451000 after 11am.
Pneumococcal vaccine - Pneumococcus bacterial infection can cause serious pneumonia. Patients who are eligible for Flu vaccine are also eligible for this ONE OFF vaccine. This means (in most people) you only need this vaccine once in your lifetime. If you think you may be eligible and have never had this - please enquire at reception.
Shingles - Protect yourself from this nasty infection caused by the varicella (chickenpox) virus which reactivates causing a painful blistering rash among other more generalised symptoms such as fatigue and flu-like symptoms. The shingles vaccine is very safe and effective. It is a ONE OFF vaccination either a single dose or two doses 6 months apart. It does not need repeated every year (unlike flu or covid-19 vaccines).
Shingles Vaccine Information
Eligible cohorts for Shingles - (Patients can hear an audio recording of whether they are eligible for the vaccine by telephoning 028 9536 2000.)
• Patients who are aged at least 71 on 1st September 2013 but not yet had their 80th birthday
- patients aged 65 years old on 1st September 2023 (DOB 2nd September 1957 to 1st September 1958)
• patients aged 70 years old on 1st September 2023 (DOB 2nd September 1952 to 1st September 1953)
(Please note those aged 66 to 69 are not eligible this year, they will become eligible in the year they turn 70)
• Severely immunosuppressed individuals aged 50 years and over.
Suffering Chronic arthritis pain? World Arthritis Day - 12th October 2023
Worried about falls?
You might benefit from strength and balance training workshops...
World Patient Safety Day 17th September 2024:
World Patient Safety Day 2023: Engaging Patients for Patient Safety (who.int)
De-prescribing Awareness
De-prescribing Factsheet
De-prescribing means reducing the numbers of medications being prescribed to you. Sometimes medications can keep being added and none are removed - resulting "polypharmacy" and all the risks associated, such as drug interactions and increased side effects.
The Dept of Health are making "de-prescribing" an area of focus for the forthcoming year.
Nutritional Supplements
The vast majority of patients do not need prescribed vitamin supplements. A healthy balanced diet should provide all the nutrition you need. Occasionally they will be prescribed for significant nutritional deficiencies.
If you are being prescribed vitamins you should ask if they are needed. They may be stopped by the practice and you can discuss this with the practice pharmacist of you have any concerns.
Do I need vitamin supplements? - NHS (www.nhs.uk)