COVID 19 BOOSTER
The practice has begun its covid 19 booster vaccine programme. We will contact you with an appointment. It MUST be 6 months since your last covid vaccine before you can get the booster.
Covid 19 Vaccine
Vaccination is the most important thing you can do to protect your community against serious illnesses. When enough people get vaccinated, it’s harder for a disease to spread to those who can’t have vaccines.
The latest update 24th June 2021 regarding vaccinations from the Department of Health is :
The Department of Health today announced that Northern Ireland’s COVID-19 vaccination centres are now offering first dose appointments to everyone aged 18 and over, as part of the drive to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible. Community pharmacies continue to be available to book a vaccination slot for those aged 40 years and over. Due to the additional availability of the Pfizer vaccine to all age cohorts through Trust centres, community pharmacies will no longer be offering vaccination to under 40s at this
For those who cannot book online, appointments can also be made using the telephone service 0300 200 7813.
You should not book if you already have a vaccination appointment with your GP or community pharmacy. The Trust-run vaccination centres are located at: SSE Arena, Belfast; Foyle Arena, Derry/Londonderry; Omagh Leisure Centre; Lakeland Forum, Enniskillen; South Lake Leisure Centre, Craigavon; Seven Towers Leisure Centre, Ballymena; and Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast.
Some appointment slots are still available at the centres for this weekend and we are today opening a fresh batch of slots for next week.
Novel Coronavirus (2019 n-CoV)
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
GP services remain open throughout the COVID pandemic. The normal appointment system however has been suspended and all calls will be triaged by a GP to determine if it is necessary to examine you face to face.
General advice on COVID 19 symptoms can be discussed with NHS 111 phone line.
Otherwise, if you are concerned about your health, continue to approach your GP for advice using the normal number 02891 515250.
The practice has now contacted all patients who required shielding letters. A new service has been established to help support "shield" patients who have been advised to completely self-isolate for 12 weeks. Please visit Caring Communities Safe and Well at SafeandWell@setrust.hscni.net or telephone 02897 566934. You can find out more about this organisation by visiting www.setrust.hscni.net/healthyliving/2428. The team is also able to offer this service to other patients who are in a similar situation due to their medical vulnerability/level of social isolation.
Any individual displaying symptoms should self isolate. The expanded case definition now includes:
a new continuous cough OR fever OR a loss or changed sense of normal smell or taste (anosmia).
Everyone over five years of age in Northern Ireland with symptoms of COVID-19 is now eligible for testing. Testing is offered through the National Testing Programme and symptomatic members of the public can book their own test via this weblink
www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test. Alternatively, symptomatic members of the public can book a test by calling the free phone number 119.
The practice will not be issuing sick lines for self isolation. Please visit this link to generate an isolation note for this purpose.
Get an isolation note
The practice will not be issuing any letters or completing forms for any travel cancelled due to covid 19.
For health advice for patients with asthma please visit the link below.
https://www.asthma.org.uk/coronavirus
For information on what is social isolating please visit the link below
https://www.blf.org.uk/support-for-you/coronavirus/what-is-social-shielding
Please visit North Down GP Information facebook page for all up-to-date information.
Due to the Covid 19 pandemic the practice will now close its reception window between 1:00pm - 2:00pm from Monday 23rd March 2020 until further notice.
The telephone lines will remain open as normal.
To reduce the footfall into the building, all repeat prescriptions will be sent to a nominated chemist. Please allow 96 hours before collecting your prescription from the pharmacy. Please do not telephone either the GP practice or the pharmacy to check if your prescription is ready. Telephone lines are very busy and lines are required to be kept free for any emergencies.
The practice would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our patients for their understanding and support during this very difficult time.
Face coverings on public transport
From 10 July 2020, it’s the law that passengers aged 13 and over on public transport must wear a face covering unless they have a reasonable excuse not to. Information on NI Direct states that “There is no need to get a letter from a doctor or government to show that you do not need to wear a face covering. If you have a condition which means you cannot wear a face covering you only need to say, if asked, that you cannot wear a face covering because you are exempt.”
Covid Testing
Please see the attached link for Covid testing advice.
https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/covid-19-coronavirus/testing-and-tracing-covid-19/testing-covid-19