*******IMPORTANT INFORMATION*******
COVID VACCINATION UPDATE 27.01.21
2nd TARGET GROUP OVER 75 YEARS WHO CAN ATTEND THE HEALTH CENTRE
NEXT CLINIC - Tuesday 2nd Feb 2021
We will be contacting patients but please feel free to ring reception on the numbers below to make an appointment
ADDITIONAL CONTACT NUMBERS FOR CASTLE PRACTICE
07851 962 861
07851 962 863
07851 962 964
07851 963 536
If you find it difficult to get to the Surgery for your vaccination, this local company might be able to help:
http://www.southantrimcommunitytransport.com/
They have been recommended by
The Mid & East Antrim Agewell Partnership
www.meaap.co.uk
The Disability Action Transport Scheme may also be able to help you - please click on the link for further information
www.disabilityaction.org
DATS Application Form
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Further information to follow regarding Patients over 80 yrs who are housebound
We will be in touch when its your turn to be vaccinated please see the roll out for administration of vaccine
at https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/coronavirus
- residents in a care home for older adults and their carers
- all those 80 years of age and over and frontline health and social care worker
- all those 75 years of age and over
- all those 70 years of age and over and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals
- all those 65 years of age and overall individuals aged 18 years to 64 years with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality
- all those 60 years of age and over
- all those 55 years of age and overall those 50 years of age and over
It is estimated that taken together, these groups represent around 99% of preventable mortality from COVID-19.
INFORMATION ABOUT COVID
SYMPTOM CHECKER?
HOW DO I GET TESTED?
CLICK HERE https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/
FLU VACCINATION FOR PATIENTS OVER 50 YEARS
THE DOH HAS EXTENDED THE FLU CAMPAIGN TO INCLUDE PATIENTS WHO ARE BETWEEN 50 - 64 YEARS. APPOINTMENTS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO BOOK BY CONTACTING THE PRACTICE ON THE NUMBERS BELOW FROM THURSDAY 7th JAN 2021
ATTENDING A VACCINATION CLINIC?
THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
All Vaccination Clinics will be held at the back of the health centre at the Barn Road end of the building. You can gain access to the clinics at the back door.
Car parking will be available at the back of the health centre and at the Barn Road Car Park entrance these areas will be the best for patients attending vaccination clinics. There will be no admittance from the front door of the health centre.
A member of staff will meet you at the back door, COVID regulations will be in place and we ask that you comply with any instructions that staff give you, they are there for your safety and to help with any queries you may have.
THERE WILL BE NO ADMISSION TO ANY VACCINATION CLINICS WITHOUT A FACE COVERING!
For your own comfort please remain in your car until your appointment time. Arrive ON TIME for your appointment - do NOT arrive too early, you may end up queuing outside as we need to monitor the number of people in the building at any one time.
Please DO NOT come to your vaccination appointment if you have any COVID symptoms. If you cannot attend for any reason contact the Practice and we will be happy to make another appointment for you, please remember someone else could use the appointment.
Please try and come to the appointment on your own.
We're really happy to be able to offer both these vaccinations for Patients in the specific age groups, we thank you for your patience and hope to move through all the age groups as quickly as possible.
MINOR AILMENTS SCHEME
The Community Pharmacy MINOR AILMENTS SCHEME is now available. You can request medication and advice from your pharmacy for the conditions listed in the attachment: Minor Ailments List
CONTACTING US
DUE TO THE HUGE NUMBER OF TELEPHONE QUERIES THE TELEPHONE LINES INTO THE HEALTH CENTRE ARE EXTREMELY BUSY
OUR LINES ARE NOT DOWN OR BROKEN - OUR STAFF ARE ANSWERING EVERY CALL THAT GETS THROUGH AS QUICKLY AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN
PLEASE USE OUR ONLINE SYSTEM TO ORDER PRESCRIPTIONS – MAKING SURE TO ADD YOUR CHOICE OF PHARMACY TO THE ORDER
ADDITIONAL CONTACT NUMBERS FOR CASTLE PRACTICE
07851 962 861
07851 962 863
07851 962 964
07851 963 536
An update on our current services
Please be aware it will not be possible for us to return to normal patient services until further guidance has been issued by the PHA and Government departments however in the meantime we are trying to facilitate your requests as best we can within the current social distancing guidelines
Face coverings must be worn in the Health Centre
Due to supply issues we are unable to provide these for patients.
Please click here for further information in relation to face coverings. https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-face-coverings
PLEASE CONTINUE TO SEEK ADVICE REGARDING MEDICAL PROBLEMS – Your call will be “Triaged” by a GP or Nurse Practitioner and where possible we will try to help you remotely, by telephone, video call or if necessary, only by GP arrangement, by asking you to come to the Health Centre at a specific time.
AN ARRANGED APPOINTMENT – Should this happen and the GP asks you to attend the Health Centre:-
The GP or Nurse arranging the appointment will ask you to remain in your car in the Health Centre Car Park, at the time of the allocated appointment.
The GP or Nurse will then ring you when they are free to see you and ask you to proceed to the front entrance of the building.
Please do not leave the car or approach the building before receiving this call.
We will then screen all patients entering the building by asking questions in relation to Coronavirus and we will ask to take your temperature with an infrared "No Touch" thermometer prior to entering the waiting room.
Please understand this is a small way of ensuring that you can be seen safely by a clinician and you're helping us to keep the area free from the spread of Coronavirus.
Your clinician will be wearing PPE for all face to face consultations.
We would respectfully request that all patients attending the Health Centre for consultations with any clinician wear a facemask.
ORDER PRESCRIPTIONS – ONLINE, TELEPHONE or BY PHARMACY - please remember to nominate a pharmacy when you order - you will not be able to collect prescriptions at reception.
COVID SYMPTOMS - Patients’ with COVID symptoms should contact NHS 111 in the first instance and isolate at home where advised to do so. Other patients will be asked to contact their GP Practices for clinical management and this may result in a referral by your GP to the local COVID Centre. Patients can also contact NHS 119 directly to arrange a COVID Test if necessary.
REFERRAL TO A COVID CENTRE - follow this link or information regarding visiting a COVID centre
SELF ISOLATING - We will not be issuing sick lines – employers are aware of this. If you need to self-isolate PLEASE DO NOT phone the practice requesting a sick line. You should visit this website where you can obtain an Isolation Note
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL BEING DURING THIS TIME
Northern Emotional Wellbeing Service LINKS counselling service - If you are feeling anxious, low in mood or suffering from mild to moderate mental health difficulties, we're here to help. To set up an appointment for telephone or video counselling, complete our on-line referral form at: Links Counselling Service or give us a call on 028 38 342 825.
You do not have to speak with your GP to arrange this.
The Minding Your Head website contains information to help you look after your own mental health and to support others. It contains a directory of mental health services in Northern Ireland, as well as links to online support such as the HSC Apps Library, which provides a range of safe and approved apps for you to download for support with issues such as stress and sleep management.
Free online Stress Control classes are also available for everyone. Each session repeats four times to enable ease of access, with the latest block of classes starting on 8 June 2020. For further information visit:
If you are concerned about your mental health and would like to speak to someone, you can talk to your GP, or if you are in distress or despair, you can call Lifeline on 0808 808 8000 where you can speak to a trained counsellor. This service is available 24/7 and is free from all NI landlines and mobiles.
FREE ONLINE STRESS CONTROL COURSE - please see the link to the next stress control online course 6,000 people attended the first online run with great feedback from attendees. Anyone can register for the course for free at NI Stress Control
HOSPITAL APPOINTMENTS
Your GP cannot effect change in relation to waiting times for appointments, x-rays, reviews. We understand this can be worrying and frustrating but you will be contacted by Hospital appointments when things change in this regard.
PATIENT TESTING – To improve surveillance of COVID we advise all patients with symptoms to request a test. Tests can be arranged - click on NHS - Ask for a Coronavirus Test. There is further information on PHA website. Patients can also ring 119 directly to arrange a coronavirus test.
CARER ID CARDS – New ID cards will be issued to registered Carers and will be issued by Trusts over the next two weeks. These can be used by carers for priority access to supermarkets. More information is available for carers regarding the carers co-ordinators and issuing of cards at this link Carer ID Cards
TEST TRACE PROTECT –
Throughout the pandemic, your support in following public health guidelines has been vital in reducing the spread of coronavirus. By doing so, you have saved lives. As ‘lockdown’ restrictions are eased, we face the risk of a second wave of infection. We can all help minimise that risk by continuing to support public health measures to control the spread, such as testing and contact tracing.
The Public Health Agency will launch a new public information campaign TEST TRACE PROTECT on Monday 6th July 2020. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the symptoms of Coronavirus and encourage individuals who are symptomatic to follow the appropriate steps including:
Helping with contact tracing
Self-isolating when advised
CASTLE PRACTICE STAFF CAPACITY
In line with social distancing rules we must work within appropriate sized teams across the opening times of the Practice and unfortunately this reduces our staff capacity to deal with your requests – we ask for your patience and understanding.
The Doctors, Nurses and Admin staff appreciate your support and thank you for your kind actions and the grateful words of encouragement we have received during this time.
Samantha Bailey
Practice Manager
COVID-19 - Stay at Home Guidance - Link
(Site updated 27/01/2021)