Scotch Quarter Practice
Welcome
Hello and welcome to our website. We’ve packed it full of useful information in a very easy to use format with the added benefit of several online functions.
If you’re new to the area, have a look at our opening times, come in and see us so that we can assist you to complete the relevant Registration Forms (HSCR1) and make a new patient review appointment for you with one of our Doctors.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to new Government legislation all new patients registering with a GP must provide Photographic evidence and other supplementary evidence which can be viewed using the following link -
NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)
***UPDATE FOR PATIENTS*** (27/07/20)
*ALL PATIENTS ATTENDING THE TREATMENT ROOM
WILL BE REQUIRED TO WEAR A FACE COVERING*
EXEMPTION FROM WEARING FACE MASKS
The Practice will not be providing letters to exempt patients from wearing face masks. It is the individual's responsibility to adhere to the guidelines regarding face coverings; the practice will not be issuing any document which contradicts the Public Health Agency advice.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE SURGERY IS STILL OPERATING UNDER STRICT COVID-19 GUIDELINES FROM PHA/DOH. AS SUCH THERE IS STILL NO UNAUTHORISED ACCESS TO THE SURGERY WITHOUT PRIOR ARRANGEMENT.
EASE OF SHIELDING PATIENTS UPDATE
If you received an initial 'shielding' letter from the Practice and an updated letter from the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Michael McBride, then you will have received a third and final letter from Dr McBride.
If the risk continues to remain low, the assessment is that, from 31 July 2020, you will no longer need to follow the current shielding advice.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER 31 JULY?
After 31 July, providing the Covid-19 risk remains low, you will not have to shield. That will mean your personal “lockdown” will no longer apply.
However, you must continue to follow public health advice at all times and be really strict about social distancing and washing your hands.
Even though the risk of coming into contact with the virus is much lower, you still need to be careful because you remain more vulnerable than the general population. So you must follow the advice that is given to people who are deemed generally vulnerable, for example people with asthma or people over 70. This is about minimising any risk as much as possible, being aware that all contacts with the outside world must be managed really carefully.
Keep your distance, wash your hands, don’t touch your face, avoid touching hard surfaces if you are out. Wherever possible, avoid enclosed spaces where social distancing is hard to maintain – such as public transport and shops.
It is important to remember that because of your underlying condition, Covid-19 will remain a threat to you. At the same time, it is accepted that shielding has been really difficult and being stuck indoors indefinitely is bad for mental and physical health. What we all have to do in these difficult times is try to strike the right balance.
You can get more advice at this website: www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-vulnerable-people
FURTHER INFORMATION IS CONTAINED IN THE LETTER FROM DR MCBRIDE. PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE SURGERY REQUESTING A SIGNING OFF LINE IF YOU HAVE BEEN SHIELDING AS THIS IS NOT NECESSARY AND WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH ONE.
If you or a member of your family is unwell and needs medical attention please contact the surgery as normal for further advice. Please ring 028 9331 5835.
If any key workers require a Driving Medical examination then these are being carried out by the GPs as normal providing you have no symptoms of Covid-19. Please telephone 028 9331 5835 to request an appointment.
All appointment requests will be triaged by telephone. This means that you will not be able to book a routine review appointment unless this has been agreed by a GP or Nurse.
When you phone the surgery you will be advised of the following:
- If the call is received BEFORE 11.30 am then you may expect a call back before the end of the day, however if the call is received AFTER 11.30 am then you should NOT expect to be contacted until the following day, except if requiring URGENT MEDICAL ADVICE.
- Patients being called back in the mornings should be available to take a call from a GP from 8.30 onwards and that the call will be from a PRIVATE NUMBER. If you do not answer your phone a message will be left, where possible, but the GP will not phone back and you will go to end of the triage call list.
- The GP will only call ONCE!
- Patients cannot specify a time to be called. - If you request a specific GP you will be informed that it may not necessarily be the specified GP who calls you back.
INFORMATION REGARDING NORTHERN COVID CENTRES
Patients who are triaged by their GP and who feel that their symptoms require further investigation will be asked to attend their closest Covid Centre. For patients in East Antrim area this has been designated as Antrim Adult Centre.
Please note you should NOT attend the Covid Centre without an appointment being
pre-arranged by your GP or Dalriada Urgent Care.
The following link will provide you with some information of what to expect when you visit the Covid Centre:
The prescription line will be open between 9.00 am to 12.30 pm daily on 02893315837.
***Please DO NOT submit requests by any means for medication to be prescribed early or for medication not currently on your repeat list.***
WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DO THIS!
As a GP Practice we appreciate these are anxious and worrying times for all of us and we would ask that you bear with us in these unknown times as we do our best to care for both our patients and our staff.
Please continue to monitor this website for further updates as information becomes available.
CLICK HERE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS 
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.
REGISTER NOW FOR ONLINE SERVICES:
Please send an email requesting to be set up for Online Access to Reception.Z00387@gp.hscni.net
We will forward a form to you which you will need to complete and email it back to us to enable us to forward you a Verification Code 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.
TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR APPOINTMENTS AND
REPEAT PRESCRIPTIONS
THE FOLLOWING SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE TO YOU WHEN REGISTERED:
ONLINE PRESCRIPTIONS:
Patients can now use the Online Prescriptions service to request Repeat Prescriptions and also to request that Unavailable Repeat Prescriptions listed be reactivated.
Requests for other/urgent medication not on your Repeat Prescriptions record will be considered but it will remain the responsibility of the patient to check if these requests have been issued by the Doctor.
ONLINE APPOINTMENTS:
Patients can book, check, change or cancel a variety of appointments with their GP, Practice Nurse** and other health care professionals and clinics. Appointments are available to be booked no further than 2 weeks in advance of the required date. This facility will also show you your Appointments History of dates previously attended and the clinic/clinician seen.
** When booking appointments please give an indication of the nature of your appointment, where possible, in the box below your appointment slot labelled 'Reason for appointment'.
ONLINE MESSAGING:
Patients can now use the Online Messaging service which 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.
The Practice will be closed on the following Wednesdays for staff training from 13.30 to 5.30 pm:
TBC
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 29/07/2020)