Appointments may be made by telephoning our receptionists or in person at the reception desk. Routine appointments can usually be made up to one month in advance with GP of your choice.
Each appointment is for one patient only. Please do not cause embarrassment by asking for more than one person to be seen whilst in surgery.
Once surgeries are booked “extra” appointments are made available on a daily basis for patients who feel their condition requires urgent attention. These patients are seen by the first available doctor.
Cancelling Appointments
If for any reason you cannot keep your appointment and need to cancel, please provide reasonable notice in order that we can allocate the appointment to another patient.
Unattended appointments are a loss to the practice and other patients, so please cancel your appointment if you can not attend.
Accident and Emergency Department
You’re nearest A+E Departments are Antrim Area and Causeway Hospital. A+E departments are for Emergencies only that can not wait until your GP surgery opens again. Please do not attend these departments if it is not an “Emergency“.
Home Visits
Home visits should only be requested if the patient is too ill to attend the surgery. Please telephone before 10 am, giving as much information as possible to enable the doctor to assess your request. Urgent cases will be attended to immediately. Please remember that several patients can be seen at the surgery in the time it takes to do a home visit.
Telephone Calls
Although the receptionists will usually be able to deal with your enquiries, we appreciate there are times when you need to speak to a doctor. The doctor can only take emergency calls during surgery. All other calls should be made between 12.00 midday and 12.30 pm when the doctors will be available to take your call.
Interpreter Service
If you wish to book an interpreter to assist during your consultation, please inform the receptionist at the time of making your appointment. It is preferable that we make the request for this service at least 48 hours before the appointment, however every effort will be made to meet your request at short notice in the case of an emergency.
Please note this is a free service provided by the Health & Social Care Board.
Chaperone
A patient attending for any type of intimate examination has the right to have a chaperone present. This can be a personal friend or close family member, however, if the patient prefers the practice can organise a qualified nurse to be present.
Although this service is available it is not compulsory to avail of it.
If you know at the time of booking an appointment that you wish a qualified nurse to act as chaperone please inform the receptionist so that the necessary arrangements can be made.