Appointments

There is an appointment system in operation for seeing both the GPs and the Practice Nurse. You must phone to make a 10min appointment. If you are late, everyone after you will be delayed.

If you no longer need the appointment, please cancel so that another patient can be seen. You will always be seen within 48hours of requesting an appointment but you may also book an appointment a few weeks in advance.

Emergencies will be dealt with straight away. This may sometimes mean appointments may have to be delayed or rearranged. We hope you will understand this. Every effort will be made to attend to you promptly. Appointments available 5 mornings a week and 4 afternoons a week:

Repeat Prescriptions

Please do not phone for a repeat prescription in the mornings which are our busiest times. Instead please send in or bring in your repeat slip (the right hand side of each prescription) with the items you need ticked. We need 24hours from the point of ordering to have your prescription ready for collection, for safety reasons – to give us time to check from your file that you are taking your drugs appropriately and that you are not due a check-up +/or blood test.

If your condition is stable on regular repeat prescriptions we can in certain circumstances set up a Repeat Dispensing Scheme for you which enables you to simply go along to your Pharmacist every 2 months to collect the drugs we have already prescribed for you for that year.

Alternatively you may wish the local chemist to collect the prepared script at the surgery so that your drugs will be ready for you when you call to the pharmacy. You must notify us if you wish to do this.

Home Visits

Should be restricted to those patients who are too ill to travel and should be telephoned in where possible, before 10.30am to enable the doctors to plan their visits according to urgency and/or locality. Remember 4-5 patients can be seen in the surgery in the time it takes to do one visit.

Telephone Advice

If you need to speak to a doctor or nurse please leave a message with the receptionist. We will endeavour to deal with telephone messages at the end of each surgery or whenever is practical throughout the day.

Telephone Requests

A Practice member is available to take telephone requests/ bookings from
08:30 – 18:00hrs Monday – Friday.
This facility is provided by Benaughlin Practice Staff on Tel: 028 6634 8080 on Thursday afternoons.

Urgent Medical Cover is provided by Benaughlin General Practice, Florencecourt (Tel: 028 6634 8080) on Thursday afternoons.

Confidentiality & Test Results

All patients’ records on file or computer are confidential and all members of the Primary Care Team are bound by the code of confidentiality. In order to maintain confidentiality, laboratory and XRay results will only be given to patients themselves or to parents of minors where appropriate. When enquiring for a result, please phone after 2pm when all results will have been seen and reported on by the doctor.

Registering with the Practice

Patients living within the practice area and Cross Border Workers who are entitled to care within the NHS may apply to BSO (Business Services Organisation) to register with the Practice. Application forms are available at Reception. Proof of current residence in the UK or proof of employment in the UK is mandatory. BSO requires evidence of identity and nationality with all application forms. For migrants from EEA countries this will be either passport or National Identity Card (NIC). New patients register with the Practice. It is your right to

• Choose to see the Doctor of your preference when making an appointment
• Expect a New Patient Check-up if appropriate at time of registration
• Have appropriate drugs and medicines prescribed
• Be referred to a specialist, if necessary

Patients’ Responsibilities to the Practice

Inform us immediately of any change of name, address or telephone number. You are responsible for keeping appointments with us and for giving adequate notice if you wish to postpone or cancel appointments.

You can reduce delays by remembering that an appointment is for one patient only and the time allocated is 10mins unless otherwise requested at booking.

Practice Area

The practice extends from Aghalane to Bellanaleck and from Gortmullan to Corradillar.

Data Protection Act

All patient records are kept on a computer database which is confidential and secure. Patients have the right under the Data Protection Act, to view their own medical records.

Disabled Access

The premises have suitable access and toilet arrangements for disabled persons with disabled parking close to the surgery entrance. There is also a “T” feature hearing aid inductive loop system for patients with impaired hearing.

Suggestions & Complaints

The GPs & staff try to provide a courteous high quality service. If you have any complaints or suggestions for improvement, please discuss these with your GP. The practice, similar to all practices has a formal complaints procedure, details of which are available from the Receptionist.

Violence or Abuse

Violence or abuse by a patient to the GP or any member of staff on the practice premises or in the place where treatment is provided will result in the removal of the patient from the practice list.