We are running a vaccination programme to protect those aged between 75 and 79 against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). We will be sending text messages out over the next few weeks, you can book yourself directly into a clinic. 

The RSV vaccine helps protect against Respiratory Syncytial Virus, a common virus which can make babies and older adults seriously ill.

There will be a limited supply of this vaccine so please book as soon as you get the invite.

The flu and covid clinics will be held separate to this, you cannot get the RSV vaccine and flu vaccine / covid together.

Please see booklet explaining the RSV virus and vaccine

RSV Older Adults leaflet.pdf

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV): symptoms, transmission, prevention, treatment - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Our clinical system EMIS came back online on Sunday.

Please bear with us as systems are not running to full capacity and we have a huge backlog of workload from last week, when we were completely down. 

OUR CLINICAL BASED SYSTEM EMIS IS DOWN. WE ARE UNABLE TO BOOK APPOINTMENT OR ACCESS MEDICAL RECORDS INCLUDING MEDICATION. WE ARE AWAITING FURTHER UPDATES FROM OUR CLINICAL SUPPLIER.

We have had several hundred patients contact us over the past month regarding changes to Patient access have made to their software.

We have no control over the changes they make, we are not associated with Patient Access.

We recommend that patients contact patient access directly and report your concerns.

Technical Support | Patient Access Support Portal

I agree that the changes they have made are completely rediculous and are unecessary and overcomplicate the app. I have made several complaints to them.

If you have a smartphone you can use google authenticator which is free. You also by-pass the third party authenticator using finger print reader or retinal scan via your camera. 

If you have any queries please contact patient access support via the above link.

Due to a change in government guidelines we have now been told we can only vaccinate those 75 and above, and ONLY those who are under 75 who are IMMUNO-SUPPRESSED. We had to cancel a number of patient appointments due to this change. We apologise for any inconvience caused.

Our first two COVID clinics at the Parish church hall are fully booked. Please do not phone the health centre asking for the vaccine.

We will send out more invitations once we get more stock of the vaccines. 

Alternatively there are walk in clinics in the Ulster Hospital, and Clear pharmacy Bangor for those aged 75 and over. 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/menopause-wellbeing-event-our-time-to-thrive-tickets-853597411837

The event will be a repeat of last years: Robert Andrews Hall which is the church hall of Shore Street Presbyterian Church, Donaghadee on 2/5/24 from 6.30-9.30pm. There will be an opportunity for attendees to browse local health and wellbeing stalls first and then guest speaker Gwyneth Hinds will be speaking at 7.30pm.

In Today's Respiratory clinic 8 patients did not attend their appointments despite confirming they would attend. The patients did not cancel either. We ask patients to notify us if they cannot attend appointments. They can phone us, Email us, use our website, or come in person.

The next day Wednesday 2nd of August we had 5 DNA's out of 8 appointment for our Asthma clinic. These patients were all informed twice of their appointments. Not one patient cancelled.

Everyone is aware how hard it is to get a Doctors appointment, yet patients continue to Not attend which is not fair on patients with real medical needs trying to get appointments.

IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND AN APPOINTMENT PLEASE CANCEL. Phone the health centre / Email the practice / come in person / reply to our practice Text.

Social media resources for vaccination programmes | HSC Public Health Agency (hscni.net)

After clean water vaccinations are the most effective public health intervention in the world for saving lifes, promoting good health and preventing serious illness. 

Ask your Health Visitor, School Nurse, Doctor or midwife for more information and keep your vaccinations up to date.

PHA Vaccinations A2 Poster for Print (Without Print Marks).pdf (hscni.net)

Carers Information support Programme.

Contact Bronagh : 07522712764

crispseni@alzheimers.org.uk

Donaghadee Health Centre

Hearing loss and hearing difficulties (December 2022)

Donaghadee health centre is a hearing friendly practice. We will endeavour to provide access and aid communication for all our deaf and hard of hearing patients.

Accessibility

If you find it difficult to use the telephone to book appointments alternative methods are available. Please do alert our reception staff to your preferred method of communication. These include;

Email (gavin.leeburn.z00276@gp.hscni.net),

online booking (www.donaghadeehealthcentre.co.uk),

SMS text (accurx communication and Medical messenger),

Relay UK (which has replaced Text Relay) – typed messages are relayed to the other caller via an operator, and video relay – conversation is relayed through a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter using video.

RNID has produced a communication card which patients' can download and print, fill in, and hand to the GP receptionist, this information can be stored onto your medical record.

https://rnid.org.uk/get-involved/create-a-personalised-digital-communication-card/

A visual display system is used in our waiting room to let you know when it is your turn to be seen. If you would prefer personally collected from the waiting room this can also be facilitated and saved on your medical records.

Communication Support

Double appointments are available to facilitate effective communication. In addition a portable induction loop is available within the practice for use.

Online and app based communication aids can also be facilitated during consultation with our health care professionals. Video Relay Services such as Interpreter now enable deaf and hearing people to communicate with each-other. They deliver immediate access to online interpreting for deaf British Sign Language (BSL) users.

https://interpreternow.co.uk/

Children’s symptom checker | Belfast Health & Social Care Trust (hscni.net) 

Also see this site for more information. 

https://what0-18.nhs.uk/professionals/gp-primary-care-staff/safety-netting-documents-parents 

General information :

Parents and guardians are being urged to be alert for the signs of group A streptococcal (GAS) infections by the Public Health Agency (PHA).                                                                

This has led to a high volume of contacts with the surgery. If your child is feeling unwell, click on this symptoms checker.  It will guide you on the best course of action for your child`s condition.

CHILDREN SYMPTOM CHECKER

https://belfasttrust.hscni.net/hospitals/childrens/childrens-symptom-checker/

This will help ensure your child receives the most appropriate care in the right place, at the right time, from the most appropriate team.

 

There can be a range of causes of sore throats, colds and coughs. These should resolve without medical intervention. However, children can on occasion develop an infection that can make them more unwell.

 

Group A streptococcus bacteria usually cause a mild infection producing sore throats or scarlet fever that can be easily treated with antibiotics. In very rare circumstances, these bacteria can get into the bloodstream and cause serious illness – called invasive Group A strep (iGAS). 

Parents are asked to contact the GP if they suspect their child has scarlet fever, because early treatment with antibiotics is important to reduce the risk of complications such as pneumonia or a bloodstream infection.

Features of Group A Streptococcal infections /Scarlet fever include;

• Sore throat
• Skin rash – classically feels like ‘sandpaper’
• Mild fever
• Headache 

For further information on scarlet fever, visit www.pha.site/ScarletFever

 

Don’t put off seeking help if your child is very unwell or seems to be getting worse, even if they have started an antibiotic treatment. 

This website provides detailed information on when and where to seek further help :  Scarlet fever and Group A Strep | Belfast Health & Social Care Trust (hscni.net)

 

TAKE PRECAUTIONS

• Practise good hygiene by washing hands with warm water and soap.
• Do not share drink glasses or utensils.
• Cover the nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing.
• People should also stay away from nursery, school or work for 24 hours after taking the first dose of antibiotics. 

 

PROTECT AGAINST THE FLU 

The current concern is that other viral illnesses circulating at the same time may be contributing to the increased severity and complications being seen with invasive group A streptococcus. 

The Public Health Agency would therefore urge everyone eligible for the free flu vaccine to get it at the earliest opportunity. In particular we would urge parents of all pre-school children aged two years and over and those aged 6 months to 2 years who are in risk groups to avail of the free flu vaccine.

Find out who is eligible for the winter vaccines and where to get vaccinated see www.nidirect.gov.uk/wintervaccines

If you are interested in the park run we have information on the notice board in the health centre reception area. Please ask at reception.

Do you need support to lose weight and make healthier choices

If you have an appointment at the health centre and you cannot attend Please cancel the appointment to free it up for other patients.

Our last Asthma clinic, there were 23 no shows out of 27 appointments. 

You can phone the health centre or email Gavin at gavin.leeburn.z00276@gp.hscni.net

We appreciate the phones can be busy , so the option of emailing is available.

As soon as you have a positive pregnancy test, you can now refer yourself directly for maternity care at the Hospital within the South Eastern HSC Trust.

maternity-self-referral.pdf (hscni.net)

You will be asked to complete the self referral form and email it to the relevant address.

Pharmacy First : To help with everyday health conditions

For FREE confidential advice and treatment ask your Pharmacy-First-Minor-Ailments-Poster-A4-High-Res.pdf

Includes : ACNE, ATHLETE'S FOOT, DIARRHOEA, EAR WAX, GROIN AREA INFECTION, HAEMORRHOIDS, HEAD LICE, MOUTH ULCERS, ORAL THRUSH, SCABIES, THREADWORMS, VAGINAL THRUSH, VERRUCAE.

Need a new hobby?

Are you interested in beginners Watercolour Art Class?   

The benefits of art classes for adults are numerous, including helping you unlock your creativity and improving your mental health.art class poster.docx

Council, alongside their Community Planning partners, had agreed as part of their Putting People First Community Plan to support any initiative that would help raise awareness of these issues which have had a devastating impact on families and our communities as a whole.

The #Here2Help Smartphone App was developed by Noel McKee at East Antrim Counselling in order that local residents can quickly access contact details for range of support services available to them within the borough.

Since moving across to the new phone system in June we are answering 1200 calls daily, that is 400 % more than any practice in North down per day, with the same number of registered patients. With our old phone system we only had 3 lines going into the practice and thus patients were getting engaged tones, we now have 5 lines going through with a queue facility of up to 40 calls. Prior to our new phones, the number one complaint was not being able to get through on the phone and this is why we introduced the queue system with more lines.

We appreciate patients sometimes are having to wait in a queue before getting through to speak to a receptionist, so we are taking some steps to improve waiting times.

From the 1st of August, ordering repeat prescriptions over the phone will stop. There are numerous other ways to order your repeat medication with the patient access app being very straightforward to use.

From Monday 26th of July you will be able to be book a telephone appointment online via patient access for each GP up to 2 weeks in advance. 

We now have a Prescription Box outside the health centre front door. From Monday the box will be divided into Repeat prescriptions and now Acute prescription requests available with the exception of Antibiotic requests.

We hope some of these steps will make it easier for patients to get through to the health centre and reduce your call waiting times.

Chronic Pain

Medication Requests 

For the ordering of Repeat Medications over the phone, PLEASE PHONE AFTER 11 A.M MONDAY TO FRIDAY. This will free up the phone lines in the morning for patients requiring Emergency appointments. 

Spring Social Prescribing

Spring social prescribing helps people aged 18+ to address; social, emotional and practical needs, by connecting them to sources of comfort within their community to improve their health and wellbeing. 

https://www.springsp.org/

Missed Appointments

At our Practice, approximately 100 consultations per month are being wasted because patients fail to show up.

Cancelling appointments would free doctors, nurses and other professionals to see people who need care and attention.

We urge our patients to "play their part" to help the Practice cope with rising demand.

If you cannot make it to your appointment or no longer need a consultation, please let your GP practice know as soon as possible.

Every appointment at a GP practice is precious, especially at a time when GP services are struggling to cope with rising patient demand, staff shortages and inadequate budgets. In view of this significant problem, as a Practice we have decided to introduce a practice policy which may result in  removal of patients from our Practice list should they fail to attend appointments repeatedly.

There has been an update on our private fee's see here.private fee's

Results can be given out by receptionists either by calling in person or telephoning between 2.00 - 4.00pm 

Positive Pregnancy Test - Self-Refer for Antenatal Care

As soon as you have a positive pregnancy test, you can now refer yourself directly for maternity care at the Hospital within the South Eastern HSC Trust.

maternity-self-referral.pdf (hscni.net)

You will be asked to complete the self referral form and email it to the relevant address.

Self Management

See our range of self management tips..

Self Management

Vaccinations 2020

Please click on these links for further information

Flu vaccination

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/pages/flu-influenza-vaccine.aspx

Pneumococcal vaccination.

 http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/pages/pneumococcal-vaccination.aspx

Self referral to podiatry and physiotherapy

You may now self-refer to physiotherapy and podiatry. Click on the links below;

Podiatry

Please note the completed form has to be posted to Ards Community Hospital or Bangor Community Hospital as advised; Podiatry-referral-form (1).pdf

Physiotherapy

This link to the physiotherapy trust site below accepts electronic submission; Physiotherapy Self Referral Form | South Eastern HSC Trust (hscni.net)

Alternatively a form may be collected from reception and posted. 

Cancer screening programmes in NI

Click on the link below to read more about the NI Cancer Screening Programmes.

http://www.cancerscreening.hscni.net/index.htm

Remember to update your details

Remember to update your details. Have you recently moved house or changed mobile number? Please let us know. 

Medical Cards

Although your medical card will have a particular Doctor`s name, you will be registered with Donaghadee Practice and you can see any Doctor working in the Practice 

Combined Oral Contraceptive Pill

If you are on the combined oral contraceptive pill you need an annual pill check. If this is due then please fill in this form Combined Contraceptive Pill Check and bring it with you to your pill check appointment. If you have answered YES to any questions please make a GP appointment. Otherwise make an appointment with the treatment room.