Have Your Say….Get Involved
Dear Patient,
We would like to know how we can improve our service to you and how you perceive our surgery and staff. To help us with this, we are setting up a virtual patient representation group so that you can have your say. We will ask the members of this representative group some questions from time to time, such as: what you think about our opening times or the quality of the care or service you received. We will contact you via email and keep our surveys succinct so it shouldn’t take too much of your time.
We aim to gather around a hundred patients from as broad a spectrum as possible to get a truly representative sample. We need young people, workers, retirees, people with long term conditions and people from non-British ethnic groups.
If you prefer, you can download the sign up form as a pdf document, print it out, complete it and return it to the practice.
We will be in touch shortly after we receive your form. Please note that no medical information or questions will be responded to.
Many thanks for your assistance
Opening Times
Reception Times
The practice is open 5 days a week Monday to Friday: 08:30am to 17:30pm for telephone access. Our doors will open at 9:00am and close at 5:00pm. (We are closed for lunch between 1:00pm and 2:00pm).
Our Surgery Times
Our morning surgeries are: 09:00am to 11:30am and the afternoon surgeries are: 15:00pm to 17:00pm. We are closed on Saturday and Sunday.
Surgeries may be extended at times of increased demand.
When We Are Closed
This practice is part of Northern Area’s Dalriada Urgent Care scheme, as are all the practices in the Cookstown/Magherafelt area. It covers the hours outside 08:30 to 18:00 on weekdays and Bank Holidays.
In the case of an emergency that cannot wait until your own doctor is available, contact Dalriada Urgent Care directly on 02825663502.
If you call Loy Medical Centre Centre you will hear a recorded message advising you to phone Dalriada Urgent Care directly on 02825663502.
Out-of-hours services are generally busy so please think carefully before asking to see a doctor and only do so if you genuinely cannot wait until the surgery re-opens.
In a genuine emergency you should call 999. Chest pains and / or shortness of breath constitute an emergency.
In Times of Bereavement
In the unfortunate event that a person has passed away, there are three things that must be done in the first few days:
- Get a medical certificate from your GP or hospital doctor (this is necessary to register the death)
- Register the death within 5 days (8 days in Scotland). You will then receive the necessary documents for the funeral.
- Make the necessary funeral arrangements.
Register the death
If the death has been reported to the coroner (or Procurator Fiscal in Scotland) they must give permission before registering the death.
- You can register the death if you are a relative, a witness to the death, a hospital administrator or the person making the arrangements with the funeral directors.
- You can use the ‘Register a Death’ page on the gov.uk website that will guide you through the process. This will also explain the registration process for Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Arrange the funeral
The funeral can usually only take place after the death is registered. Most people use a funeral director, though you can arrange a funeral yourself.
Funeral directors
Choose a funeral director who’s a member of one of the following:
- National Association of Funeral Directors
- National Federation of Funeral Directors
- Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors
These organisations have codes of practice – they must give you a price list when asked. Some local councils run their own funeral services, for example for non-religious burials. The British Humanist Association can also help with non-religious funerals.
Arranging the funeral yourself
Contact the Cemeteries and Crematorium Department of your local council to arrange a funeral yourself.
Funeral costs
Funeral costs can include:
- funeral director fees
- things the funeral director pays for on your behalf (called ‘disbursements’ or ‘third-party costs’), for example, crematorium or cemetery fees, or a newspaper announcement about the death
- local authority burial or cremation fees
Funeral directors may list all these costs in their quotes.
Useful Contact Numbers
| Loy Medical Centre | 028 8676 3030 |
|---|---|
| Dalriada Urgent Care | 028 2566 3502 |
| Mid Ulster Hospital | 028 7963 1031 |
| South Tyrone Hospital | 028 8772 2821 |
| Antrim Area Hospital | 028 9442 4000 |
| Craigavon Area Hospital | 028 3833 4444 |
| Altnagelvin Area Hospital | 028 7134 5171 |
| Belfast City Hospital | 028 9032 9241 |
| Royal Victoria Hospital | 028 9024 0501 |
| Belvoir Park Hospital | 028 9069 9069 |
| Holywell Hospital | 028 9446 5211 |
| Causeway Hospital | 028 7032 7032 |
| Allens Chemist | 028 8676 3628 |
| Boots Burn Road | 028 8676 3811 |
| Boots James Street | 028 8676 2238 |
| Boots Chemist Main Street | 028 8676 6176 |
| Falls Pharmacy | 028 8676 2653 |
| Gordons Chemist | 028 8676 2223 |
| Cooktown Social Security Office | 028 8676 8000 |
| Social Services/Family Planning/Chiropody | 028 2672 3800 |
| Social Services after hours | 028 9446 8833 |
Your Health
Family Health
Planning Your Pregnancy
Having a baby is one of the most exciting things that can happen to you. But you might be feeling nervous as well. If it’s your first baby, it’s hard to know what to expect. Your mum, colleagues, friends and relations might all be giving you advice. And then there is all the information on the internet as well as in magazines and books. At times it can feel overwhelming and it’s hard to know who is right when people say different things.
This information comes from The Pregnacy Book, which your midwife may give you at the first appointment.
Child Health 0 - 6 years
Childhood immunisation programme
The immunisation programme gives vaccines to babies and children at different ages. Routine immunisation for babies begins when they are eight weeks old. Your child needs several vaccines to protect them from infections, so it’s important to complete their immunisation programme.
Click here to download the Visual Guide to Vaccines
When Should I Worry?
Having an ill child can be a very scary experience for parents. If you understand more about the illness it can help you to feel more in control. Download the booklet below, (for parents and older children) deals with common infections in children who are normally healthy.
Child Health 7 to 15 years
Routine Childhood Immunisations
Girls aged 12 to 13 years old
- Cervical cancer caused by human papillomavirus types 16 and 18 (and genital warts caused by types 6 and 11)
- HPV (two doses 6-12 months) Upper arm
- 14 years old (school year 9) Tetanus, diphtheria and polio
- Td/IPV (Revaxis), and check MMR status Upper arm
- Meningococcal groups A, C, W and Y disease
- MenACWY Upper arm
Please note:
** Where two or more injections are required at once, these should ideally be given in different limbs. Where this is not possible, injections in the same limb should be given 2.5cm apart.
The Meningitis C vaccination will be introduced during the 2013/14 academic year and the vaccine supplied will depend on the brands available at the time of ordering.
Fevers
Most symptoms of a fever in young children can be managed at home with infant paracetamol. If the fever is very high, they may have an infection that needs treating with antibiotics.
Head Lice
Head lice are insects that live on the scalp and neck. They may make your head feel itchy. Although head lice may be embarrassing and sometimes uncomfortable, they don’t usually cause illness. However, they won’t clear up on their own and you need to treat them promptly.
Nose Bleeds
Nosebleeds (also known as epistaxis) are fairly common, especially in children, and can generally be easily treated.
Men's Health
Five health symptoms men should not ignore:
“British men are paying the price for neglecting their health: more than 100,000 men a year die prematurely.
On average, men go to their GP half as often as women. It’s important to be aware of changes to your health, and to see your GP immediately if you notice something that’s not right.” Find out more
Prostate Cancer
Each year about 36,000 men in the UK are diagnosed with prostate cancer, making it the most common cancer in men. It mainly affects men aged over 50.
Symptoms:
- difficulty in starting to pass urine
- a weak, sometimes intermittent flow of urine
- dribbling of urine before and after urinating
- a frequent or urgent need to pass urine
- rarely, blood in your urine or semen and pain when passing urine
These symptoms aren’t always caused by prostate cancer but if you have them, see your GP.
Find out more about the symptoms, causes and diagnosis of prostate cancer by using the resources below.
Resources
Testicular Cancer
Testicular cancer, though the most common cancer in young men, it is still quite rare. With 2000 new cases being diagnosed each year, this makes it the biggest cause of cancer related death in 15 – 35-year-old males. It accounts for around 70 deaths a year within the UK alone.
What to Look Out For
The most common symptom of testicular cancer is swelling or a pea-sized lump in one of the testes (balls). There is no current screening test therefore it is important that you look out for the following signs and symptoms.
- A dull ache, or sharp pain, in your testicles, or scrotum, which may come and go
- A feeling of heaviness in your scrotum
- A dull ache in your lower abdomen
- A sudden collection of fluid in your scrotum
- Fatigue, and generally feeling unwell.
Resources
Sexual Problems
It’s estimated that one man in 10 has a problem related to having sex, such as premature ejaculation or erectile dysfunction. Dr John Tomlinson of The Sexual Advice Association explains some of the causes, and where to seek help.
Womens Health
Cervical Screening (Smear Tests)
Cervical screening in Northern Ireland is a free health service that checks the health of the cervix and helps prevent cancer by finding high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) and early cell changes.
Who is Eligible
- Aged 25 to 49: Invited every 3 years.
- Aged 50 to 64: Invited every 5 years.
- You must be registered with a local GP practice to receive your automatic invitation.
How the Test Works
- HPV Testing First: The sample is tested for high-risk HPV. If no HPV is found, your risk is very low and you do not need further tests until your next invite.
- Cell Check: If HPV is found, the same sample is checked for abnormal cell changes.
- Follow-up: Depending on the results, you may be invited back in 12 months for a repeat test or referred to a hospital clinic for a colposcopy (a closer look at the cervix).
How to Book
- You will receive an invitation letter in the post when your test is due.
- Once invited, contact your GP surgery to schedule your appointment with a nurse.
- For full official details, check the nidirect Cervical Screening Guide.
HPV Vaccination
Since September 2008 there has been a national programme to vaccinate girls aged 12-13 against human papilloma virus (HPV). There is also a three-year catch up campaign that will offer the HPV vaccine (also known as the cervical cancer jab) to 13-18 year old girls.
The programme is delivered largely through secondary schools, and consists of three injections that are given over a six-month period. In the UK, more than 1.4 million doses have been given since the vaccination programme started.
What is Human papilloma virus (HPV)?
Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the name of a family of viruses that affect the skin and the moist membranes that line your body, such as those in your cervix, anus, mouth and throat. These membranes are called the mucosa.
There are more than 100 different types of HPV viruses, with about 40 types affecting the genital area. These are classed as high risk and low risk.
How you get HPV?
Types of HPV that affect the skin can be passed on by skin contact with an affected person. The types of HPV that affect the mouth and throat can be passed on through kissing. Genital HPV is usually spread through intimate, skin to skin, contact during sex. You can have the genital HPV virus for years and not have any sign of it.
How HPV can cause cervical cancer?
Most HPV infections are harmless or cause genital warts, however some types can cause cervical cancer. Most HPV infections clear up by themselves, but in some people the infection can last a long time. HPV infects the cells of the surface of the cervix where it can stay for many years without you knowing.
The HPV virus can damage these cells leading to changes in their appearance. Over time, these changes can develop into cervical cancer. The purpose of cervical screening (testing) is to detect these changes, which, if picked up early enough, can be treated to prevent cancer happening. If they are left untreated, cancer can develop and may lead to serious illness and death.
Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK. About 46,000 women get breast cancer in the UK each year. Most of them (8 out of 10) are over 50, but younger women, and in rare cases men, can also get breast cancer.
The NHS Breast Screening Programme invites over 2 million women for screening every year, and detects over 14,000 cancers. Dr Emma Pennery of Breast Cancer Care says: “Breast X-rays, called mammograms, can detect tumours at a very early stage, before you’d feel a lump. The earlier it’s treated, the higher the survival rate.”
Seniors
Seasonal Flu Vaccination
Influenza – flu – is a highly infectious and potentially serious illness caused by influenza viruses. Each year the make-up of the seasonal flu vaccine is designed to protect against the influenza viruses that the World Healflujabsth Organization decide are most likely to be circulating in the coming winter.
Regular immunisation (vaccination) is given free of charge to the following at-risk people, to protect them from seasonal flu:
- people aged 65 or over,
- people with a serious medical condition
- if you are pregnant
- people living in a residential or nursing home
- the main carers for an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer becomes ill
- healthcare or social care professionals directly involved in patient care
Eating Well & Exercise – helping you maintain a healthy body
We’re bombarded with scare stories about weight, from size zero to the obesity ‘epidemic’. But a healthy body is determined by different factors for each of us.
Sexual Health
Both men and women need to look after their sexual health and take time to understand the issues that surround contraception and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
For instance there are some STIs, like chlamydia, that you could be carrying without having any symptoms. This infection can affect fertility, so it’s important to make use of the sexual health services available for free on the NHS.
Contraception
There are so many different types of contraception available that you should be able to find the right method. You may have to try several different things before you choose the one you like most.
Chlamydia
Chlamydia is the most commonly diagnosed sexually transmitted infection among under-25s. Often there are no symptoms, but testing and treatment are simple.
Causes and risk factors
Chlamydia is usually passed from one person to another during vaginal, oral or anal sex, or by sharing sex toys. It can live inside cells of the cervix, urethra, rectum and sometimes in the throat and eyes.
Long Term Conditions
Asthma
Asthma is a common condition that causes coughing, wheezing, tightness of the chest and breathlessness. Most people with asthma who take the appropriate treatment can live normal lives, but left untreated, asthma can cause permanent damage to the airways.
Symptoms of Asthma
The usual symptoms of asthma are:
- coughing
- wheezing
- shortness of breath
- tightness in the chest
Not everyone will get all of these symptoms. Some people experience them from time to time; a few people may experience these symptoms all the time.
Treatment of Asthma
There isn’t a cure for asthma. However, treatments are available to help manage your symptoms. Your treatment plan will be individual to you, combining medicines and asthma management in a way that works best for you.
Living with Asthma
Medicines are only part of your treatment for asthma. You will also need to deal with the things that make it worse. Keep a diary to record anything that triggers your asthma – this can help you to discover a pattern. Using a peak flow meter to monitor your lung function can also help. If you have repeatedly low readings in a certain situation (for example, at the end of a working day, after exercise or after contact with an animal) this may indicate the trigger.
This website has been revamped to meet the needs of the thousands of people with asthma who visit the site each day, either to find important information about asthma and how to control it
Cancer
One in three people will be affected by cancer at some stage in their life. There are many different types of cancer and this page doesn’t cover them all, but the general information will help you to access further information and support.
Macmillan Cancer Support – The cancer line and how it can help
- There are videos available Macmillan and the support they offer on the Macmillan Video Site
- There is further information and educational videos on the Cancer Research UK Video Site
Useful Links
Healthtalkonline, an award-winning charity website, lets you share in other people’s experiences of health and illness. An excellent resource compiled after interviewing a wide range of people suffering from heart disease.
cancer help Free information service provided by Cancer Research UK about cancer and cancer care for people with cancer and their families. Information is formatted in such a way that makes understanding the website an easy process
Macmillan Cancer Support Europe’s leading cancer information charity, with over 4,500 pages of up-to-date cancer information, practical advice and support for cancer patients, their families and carers.
Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a preventable disease that was responsible for the deaths of 88,000 people in the UK in 2008 (British Heart Foundation CHD Statistics 2010). In all, 191,00 died from heart and circulatory disease in the UK. Death rates are highest in Scotland and North of England and lowest in the South of England. CHD is the biggest killer in the country.
British Heart Foundation – Vinne Jones’ hard and fast hands-only CPR
There are videos available on all aspects of BHF and heart disease on the BHF video site
COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the name for a collection of lung diseases including chronic bronchitis, emphysema and chronic obstructive airways disease. The main symptom of COPD is an inability to breathe in and out properly. This is also referred to as airflow obstruction.
What is COPD?
Diabetes
Diabetes is a long-term (chronic) condition caused by too much glucose (sugar) in the blood. It is also known as diabetes mellitus. There are two types of diabetes – type 1 and type 2.
According to the charity Diabetes UK, more than two million people in the UK have the condition and up to 750,000 more are believed to have it without realising they do.
More than three-quarters of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes mellitus. This used to be known as non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or maturity-onset diabetes mellitus. The number of people with type 2 diabetes is rapidly increasing as it commoner in the overweight and obese, which is itself a growing problem.
The remainder have type 1 diabetes mellitus, which used to be known as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
What’s the treatment for diabetes?
It’s recognised that the sooner the blood sugar levels are brought under control, the better the long term prospects of preventing damage. Lifestyle advice about diet, weight management and regular activity is the first step.
Type 1 diabetes will require immediate insulin therapy, Type 2 diabetes will first be managed with a drug called Metformin, if lifestyle changes alone aren’t effective. There are now several other drugs used in type 2 diabetes, although eventually some type 2 diabetics will need insulin therapy as it’s a progressive disease
Mental Health
Mental health is about how we think, feel and behave. One in four people in the UK have a mental health problem at some point in their lives, which affects their daily life, relationships or physical health.
Mental health disorders take many different forms and affect people in different ways. Schizophrenia, depression and personality disorders are all examples of mental health problems. Diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia generally develop in old age, whereas eating disorders are more common in young people.
Alzheimer’s Society – Diagnosis interview with Terry Pratchett
The Alzheimer’s Society is the leading care and research charity for people with dementia and their carers.
They provide further information and education, support for carers, and quality day and home care on the Alzheimer’s Society Video Site
Mental Health Wellbeing Podcasts
You can subscribe to wellbeing podcasts on the Mental Health Foundation Website.
The website of the Mental Health Foundation outlines the charity’s work in research, policy, service development and service user involvement. The site offers information and publications to download on research, good practice in services and on mental health problems and key issues.
