MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAMS - MDTs

A number of GP practices in the Causeway locality have expanded their teams to include Multi-disciplinary teams.  MDTs consists of Physiotherapists, Social Workers, Social Work Assistants and Mental Health Practitioners, who work in GP Practices alongside the existing practice teams to provide enhanced access to health and social care services within the GP Practice. Patients registered to a MDT practice are able to book an appointment directly with any of these new services, without first having to see their GP!

MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONERS - General Practice Mental Health Practitioners have joined the multi-disciplinary team within your GP practice. They will work with you to help improve your mental health and wellbeing through early intervention, prevention and management of mental health issues, using a range of approaches to achieve this.  Good mental health is just as important as good physical health. One in four people in Northern Ireland will experience problems that negatively affect their mental health. While the things which affect your mental health can be very complex, often a few simple things may be all you need to protect your mental wellbeing.

PHYSIOTHERAPISTS - Ballymoney Family Practice now has First Contact Physiotherapy Practitioners available that you can book a direct appointment without seeing your GP first. They are experts in dealing with problems with your joints, muscles and bones such as arthritis, sprains, strains, neck and back pain.Our physiotherapists have advanced training and will be able to diagnose your condition, order tests and prescribe if required and advise on the best management. They can organise further treatment or onward referral to appropriate services.

SOCIAL WORKERS - Social workers can discuss any problems a person has and explore what is important to them.  Social Workers will provide practical advice, help and support in order to address these problems.  Social Workers can refer people onto to groups or services within their local community which can support their needs.  Social Workers seek to improve a person's social well being by promoting their independence, supporting people's social inclusion and helping people to feel safe and well and feel in control of their own lives.  Social Workers can support people through:
   *   isolation or loneliness
  *   relationship difficulties
  *   provide carer support
  *   parenting difficulties
  *   housing difficulties
  *   financial difficulties
  *   stress
  *   bereavement
  *   traumatic life events and abuse
  *   domestic abuse
  *   alcohol, drug and substance abuse

PHARMACIST - Our Practice Pharmacist works as part of our practice team by supporting our patients on all aspects of prescribing and management of their medicines, helping us ensure that our patients get the best from their medicines.

The Practice Pharmacist regularly undertakes medication reviews, updates medicines following your discharge from hospital, counsels patients on their medicines and will see patients in a clinical consultation e.g. those prescribed warfarin or other anti-coagulant drugs.

Our Practice Pharmacist is a source of information for all members of the practice team and for our patients.

 PLEASE ASK A MEMBER OF OUR RECEPTION TEAM FOR FURTHER INFORMATION!

WELL WOMAN CLINIC

Appointments Tel. 028 2766 0300  Option 2

This is run by our Practice Nurses. They offer cervical screening, advice on breast awareness and general health advice. All women who require a smear will be offered an appointment.  A video can be accessed at the following website regarding your smear test:  http://www.cancerscreening.hscni.net/2179.htm

HEALTH PROMOTION & SPECIALISED CLINICS

Appointments Tel. 028 2766 0300  Option 2

All new patients have some basic health checks on registration.  Existing patients can attend their Doctor for a general health check.  Those who often 'fall through the net' but would benefit from these checks are middle aged men, all smokers and those with a family history of heart disease.  We also offer DIABETIC, ASHTMA and COPD clinics and offer annual check ups for patients with EPILEPSY, HEART DISEASE, STROKES and CHRONIC MENTAL ILLESS.

A new video is now available on the Northern Ireland Cancer Screening Programme website produced by the Public Health Agency to aid those people eligible to have the Bowel Screening Test.  It covers how to take the test, processing the samples at the laboratory, receiving your results and being called back to  colonoscopy.  Please follow the link

http://www.cancerscreening.hscni.net/2188.htm

MINOR SURGERY

Appointments Tel. 028 2766 0300  Option 2

Each doctor offers this service including removal of skin lesions, joint injections and other minor procedures.

CHILDHOOD IMMUNISATION AND SURVEILLANCE CLINIC

Every Wednesday 9.00am to 11.00am run by a GP and Practice Nurse. When due routine immunisation/checks, each child will receive an appointment. If your child misses a jab he/she will automatically get another appointment in the post.

HEALTH VISITING TEAM 

Health Visitors Tel. 028 2766 0300 Option 1

Our Health Visiting Team can offer a family centered service from pregnancy until your child goes to school.  They can offer support on matters such as healthy lifestyle, parenting, breast feeding, bottle-feeding, immunisations, play stimulation & child development, weaning and behaviour management along with keeping your child safe.  The Health Visiting team run a parenting group "Your 1st Year" on a Wednesday between 10am and 12noon.  For further information contact your Health Visitor .

ANTENATAL CARE

Midwives                                          Tel.028 2766 1802 Direct Line         Tel.028 2766 0300 Option 2 Appointments

All women considering pregnancy should seek pre-conceptual advice from their doctor.  If you become pregnant you should arrange an appointment with your GP who will set up a 'booking appointment' with the midwife.  Twice weekly antenatal clinics are run by our midwives, supported by the Doctors and care is shared with a Consultant Obstetrician.  Preparation for labour classes are held in the health centre and no appointment is necessary but dates for these are provided by the named midwife.

Appointments are made by a member of the Reception Team.  Please call at the desk or telephone 028 2766 0300 - Option 2. 

CONTRACEPTION and FAMILY PLANNING

Appointments Tel. 028 2766 0300  Option 2

Contraceptive services including coil fitting and implant are provided by the GPs.

NEW CENTRALISED BOOKING SYSTEM for FAMILY PLANNING

The Family Planning Service are operating a new Centralised Booking system to improve access to clinics.

To make an appointment in ANY of the clinics within the Northern HSC Trust please telephone the number below between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm, Monday to Friday      028 2826 6163

Appontments can continue to be made via your local Family Planning Clinic during clinc hours - Tel. 028 2766 0300 Option 1

TREATMENT ROOM

 Tel. 028 2766 0309

Weekdays 9.00am -12.30pm & 2.00pm - 5.30 pm (4.30 pm Friday) Sister Helen Cochrane and her team are available for blood/urine tests as well as routine dressings, injections and removal of sutures. They may also see emergencies and if necessary refer to the doctor.  No appointment necessary.

DISTRICT NURSING

Tel. 0845 600 3111

The team provides nursing care at home for those patients of all ages with acute and severe chronic ailments as well as the terminally ill.  

OTHER SERVICES

• ANNUAL INFLUENZA IMMUNISATION
• SHINGLES VACCINATION PROGRAMME
• PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINATION PROGRAMME
• ANTI-COAGULATION (Warfarin) MONITORING (Run by Practice Nurse Siobhan Dan/Belinda Clarke.  Onsite testing via appointment only)
• HIGH RISK DRUG MONITORING
• MINOR INJURIES SERVICE Avoid the queue of A&E.  We provide a Minor Injury Service.  Either attend the Treament Room or book an Urgent Appointment with the GP.
• SMOKING CESSATION SERVICE
• LEARNING DISABILITY SERVICE
• COUNSELLING SERVICE (By Referral from your GP)

Travel Vaccinations

If you require advice on travel vaccinations we would ask that you first complete our Travel Risk Assessment Form, before making an appointment, so that this will enable our Practice Nurse Belinda Clarke, to carry out a review of what you may need.  Please print off the form, complete and return either by hand delivering to reception or preferably e-mailing back to Reception.Z00345@gp.hscni.net:

Travel Risk Assessment Form - Ballymoney Family Practice

It is important that you:

• Allow adequate time for the nurse to review your form and get back to you with advice or an appointment.
• Allow at least six weeks before you travel to have the vaccines administered.
• Give as much information as possible about the countries you are visiting and the type of travel to enable the Nurse to carry out a proper assessment.
• Are aware that some travel vaccines are ordered on a private prescription and these incur a charge over and above the normal prescription charge when you collect at your local pharmacy.

All travel queries should be directed to our

Practice Nurse - Belinda Clarke

Influenza Vaccination 2020/2021

Patients who are eligible to receive the Flu Vaccination (over 65, certain at risk patients under 65 and preschool children) should receive a letter before 3^rd October 2020 with details of their appointment date and time. This year we will be running our flu clinics over 4 Saturday mornings.   We have a huge number of patients to vaccinate and in order to keep our patients and staff safe and promote social distancing we will be making some changes to the way we run the flu clinic.

• There will be a one way system through the building and you will join a moving queue keeping 2m apart from the next patient & will exit to the car park via a different door. Staff and signage will guide patients throughout the building.
• PATIENTS MUST BRING THIER LETTER - Patients will not check in at reception this year and to gain entry into the building they must bring the personal letter from the surgery.
• Our staff will be wearing personal protective equipment.
• For speed where possible patients will be vaccinated standing up and will be allowed to leave the building immediately afterwards.
• Patients should dress in such a way that your upper arm can be quickly accessed for the injection (adults) although be aware of the weather conditions as there may be a requirement to join the end of the queue outside of the building.
• Patients should wear a mask or face covering (adults).
• Please do not come to the Health Centre if you have any symptoms of COVID-19 (i.e. new continuous cough, fever or loss of smell/taste).
• If the district nurse administered your vaccination last year they have been automatically given your name to have your vaccination at home.
• If you think that you are eligible to receive a flu vaccine and have not received a letter please telephone reception on 028 2766 0300.
• If you are not eligible to receive a flu vaccine but would like to avail of one you can ask your local pharmacy to administer for a small fee if they provide this service.

Carers Health Check 

If you are a 'carer' (i.e. you have an UNPAID role looking after someone in the community) for someone we can offer you a health check. 

This will involve an enquiry about any health problems / complaints and a review of any current medication which you may be on.  We can also provide information for organisations which may be able to help you in your role as a carer.

Please telephone our reception and ask for an appointment with our Practice Nurse for 'A Carers Health Check'