Vere Foster Medical Group

Dr Toal & Partners www.verefoster.co.uk

Practice Information Leaflet WELCOME TO OUR PRACTICE

Hello and welcome to our practice. At the Vere Foster medical group we aim to provide all our patients with a high standard of personal, caring family medicine within the resources available to us and to deal with any problems you may have as quickly and efficiently as possible. This pamphlet is to help you get to know the practice and the services we provide. We hope you find it useful and keep it for future reference and if you have any questions or queries about any aspect of our service please ask any member of staff who are always willing to help.

If you live in our practice area (within 10 miles from the practice) and would like to register with us please complete one of our registration forms that are available from reception. Please remember you will be registering with the practice rather than an individual GP.

CONTACT DETAILS

Sandy Row Medical Practice Falls Road Medical Practice 132-136 Sandy Row 475 Falls Road Belfast Belfast BT12 5EY BT12 6DD

Telephone: (028) 90323973 / (028) 90312292 Fax: (029) 90244334 Website: www.verefoster.co.uk

APPOINTMENTS Please ring our main switchboard number on 028 90323973 to book an appointment for either of our surgeries.

The practice offers consultations by appointment with the doctor of your choice and can be booked up to four weeks in advance. Appointments are booked in ten minute intervals so should you require extra time with the doctor please ask the receptionist at the time of booking.

 Nurses based at our practice treat patients for a wide range of common conditions. You can expect to see a nurse within 2 working days by appointment.  Tell us if you want someone to accompany you during examination or a private room to discuss any matters. Remember that the results of tests can only be given to the patient.

HOW YOU CAN HELP US:

 Be on time for your appointment  Tell us if you need to cancel  Call for a home visit or urgent appointment before 10am

 Urgent cases are seen on the day.

Home Visits:

Our doctors typically see four patients in the practice in the time it takes to do a single home visit. For this reason, we ask our patients to come to the practice if at all possible. However we can visit you at home if your condition means you cannot attend any of our practices. Please ring before 10am to arrange.

Urgent Appointments

Requests for urgent appointments should be made before 10am by telephone or at reception. Telephone Advice

Should you need to call the practice for telephone advice, please ring before 10am, receptionists will take your contact details and some detail of your query and pass this to a doctor who will contact you normally after morning surgery. Urgent requests will be given prompt attention by the receptionists and the doctors.

Evenings and weekends / public holidays

North and West Urgent Care offers patients registered with our practice full GP led service when our practice is closed. For urgent advice and treatment call North and West Urgent Care on 028 90 744447. PRACTICE OPENING HOURS

The practice opens at 8.30am every morning Monday to Friday at both our Sandy Row and Falls Road practices and closes for lunch between 1-2pm, appointments can be made during these hours, if you need to speak to a doctor urgently during over lunch time or on a Wednesday afternoon please call when the practice is closed please call – 07743498292.

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Sandy 8.30am- 8.30am- 8.30am- 8.30am- 8.30am- Row 6pm 6pm 1pm 6pm 6pm Falls 8.30am- 8.30am- 8.30am- 8.30am- 8.30am- Road 6pm 6pm 1pm 6pm 1pm

The Practice does offer appointments outside of these core hours by appointment.

The practice closes on the afternoon of the first Monday of the month to facilitate regular training and updates for practice staff. During this time the practice provides an emergency cover for patients, contact number for patients in the event that you may need to speak to a doctor urgently: 07743498292.

CLINICS

We run a range of clinics. For an appointment or further details please call our main Sandy Row medical centre on 028 90323973.

Child Health and immunization

All new babies are invited for regular check ups from eight weeks old.

Sandy Thursday – Row 10.30am- 11.30am Falls Road Tuesday 9.30am – 10.30am

Minor Surgery

Minor operations can be done in our treatment room. Please discuss this with your doctor who will arrange for you to be given an appointment.

Diabetes

Wednesday 8.30am-10.30am

Led by our nursing team, this clinic offers advice and general health check-ups to patients diagnosed with diabetes. Asthma and COPD

Monday 9am-11am

Asthma and patients with chronic breathing problems can be seen in this clinic for advice and support from our nurses who specialize in asthma care.

Stopping Smoking

Tuesday 2pm-4pm

Run by our nurses this clinic gives advice and support to patients trying to give up smoking.

Well Woman

Tuesday 8.30am-10.30am & 2pm-4pm

This clinic provides cervical screening for all eligible female patients.

Carers

The practice would like to know if you are a carer, especially those people who, whatever their age, may be caring without help or support. Carers are often “hidden” looking after a family member or helping a friend or neighbour with day to day tasks and may not see themselves as a carer.

Caring for someone is an important and valuable role in the community, which is often a 24-hour job that can be very demanding and isolating for the carer. Carers should receive appropriate support by way of access to accurate information on a range of topics such as entitlement to benefits and respite care and not least, a listening ear when things get too much.

As a Carer, you are also entitled to have your needs assessed by Social Services. A Carer’s Assessment is a chance to talk about your needs as a carer and the possible ways help could be given. It also looks at the needs of the person you care for. There is no charge for an assessment.

PRESCRIPTIONS

Sandy Row medical centre and Falls Road medical centre both have pharmacies in their immediate vicinity where patients can have their prescription dispensed if it is more convenient.

Repeat Prescriptions

If you take medication on a long term basis you can request a repeat prescription in a variety of ways:

 You can order your repeat prescription on-line via our secure website www.verefoster.co.uk  You can use the re-order slip attached to your previous prescription and leave this at any of our receptions.  You can post your reorder slip to the practice with a stamped self address envelope and we will post your prescription to you.  The majority of local pharmacies offer a collection service for patients so please enquire with your local pharmacist.

Please allow at least 24 hours for the practice to prepare your request.

Other Local NHS Services

As well as the practice there are many other local NHS services you can contact for free health advice such as your local pharmacy – you don’t need and appointment. Before you do, remember that you can treat many minor aliments such as coughs, colds etc by keeping a well stocked medicine cabinet at home.  Remember keep the medicine chest in a secure, locked place out of reach of small children.  Always read the instructions and use the suggested dose  Watch expiry dates – don’t keep or use medicines past their expiry dates.  Take all unwanted and out-of-date medicines back to the pharmacy.

TEST RESULTS

Results of investigations such as blood tests etc are available by telephoning the treatment room nurse between 11.30am – 12.00pm Monday – Friday.

PATIENTS WITH PARTICULAR NEEDS

 The practice has disabled access and toileting facilities at both our practices for patients using wheelchairs.  For patients with hearing problems we have electronic loop systems available on request.  We can arrange interpretation and translation services in person or by phone for patients who do not speak English, please let us know if you need this service when booking an appointment.

PATIENT CONFIDENTIALITY

We respect your right to privacy and keep all your health information confidential and secure.

It is important that the NHS keeps accurate and up-to-date records about your health and treatment so that those treating you can give you the best possible advice and care. This information is only available to those involved in your care. You have the right to know what information we hold about you. If you would like to see your records, please call our practice manager at our Sandy Row medical centre.

Confidentiality for the under 16’s

Teenagers are entitled to the same confidentiality as adults; this includes children over thirteen years of age providing the doctor or nurse feels they are capable of making decisions about their own health. All practice staff including receptionists follow strict guidelines to ensure patient confidentiality.

Patients over thirteen are entitled to visit any doctor that is willing to provide contraceptive services without having to register with that practice.

OUR TEAM

The Partners

Dr Brendan Toal (Male) MB BCH BAO MRCP MRCGP DRCOG (QUB 1982)

Dr Cheryl Kelly (Female) MB BCH BAO MRCGP DGM DMH DCH (QUB 1999)

Dr Nichola Brown (Female) MB BCH BAO (QUB 2002)

Our Other Doctors

Dr Helen McKenna Our Nursing Team

Mrs Bernadette Dowds Practice Nurse

Mrs Hazel Deering Treatment Room Nurse

Mrs Amanda Betts Treatment Room Nurse

Phelbotomist

Mrs Lisa Whiteside

Practice Manager

Mr Damian Denver (Non-medical partner)

Office Manager Mrs Sheila McNally

Reception Staff

Mrs Jennifer McClure, Mrs Mary Austin, Mrs Martine McKenna, Miss Louise Adams, Mrs Geraldine Kelly, Ms Victoria Stafford are here to help you. They answer the phone deal with enquiries. Their job is very demanding so please be patient.

The Doctors Usually work the following days:

Dr Toal Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday Dr Kelly Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday Dr Brown Monday, Wednesday, Friday Dr McKenna Tuesday, Thursday HEALTH VISITOR

Your Health Visitor is a registered nurse with further specialist training in community Nursing and Child Development. The Health Visitor can visit you at home and can help you in all aspects of caring for and managing a new baby. The Health Visitor can give sensible, practical and professional advice to all members of the family on what you can do to stay healthy.

COMMUNITY MIDWIFE

Your Community Midwife can provide advice on all aspects of your pregnancy. They provide antenatal care, visit you and your baby at home following transfer from hospital and are involved in running support groups in the area.

DISTRICT NURSE

The role of the District Nurse is to provide nursing care, advice and health promotion to those patients who are housebound. Referral to the service usually comes via GP or hospital. The nurse in partnership with the patient / relatives will identify nursing problems and plan appropriate care.

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT

This Act became fully operational on the 1st January 2005. Under the provisions of this ACT any member of the public may request information from GP surgeries ( as well as other public sector organizations) You can make a request for information in writing to the Practice Manager at the surgery. Information may be provided free of charge, however, if there are production costs such as photocopying and laser printing, there will be a nominal charge. PATIENTS COMPLIANTS / COMPLIMENTS /SUGGESTIONS

The doctors are always happy to receive constructive comments and suggestions about the service offered. Please direct any comments or complaint to the practice manager Mr Denver.

Should you wish to make a complaint then please ask to speak to our practice manager, Mr Denver. He will record your complaint in writing and ensure that it is fully investigated. If you would like a copy of the complaint procedure please ask at the desk. If you are unable to resolve your complaint through the practice complaint procedures, you may contact the Patient / Cilent Services Department of the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust. VIOLENCE AND AGGRESSION

The Partners at the Vere Foster Medical Group re-affirm their commitment to do everything possible to protect staff, patients and visitors from unacceptable behaviour and have zero tolerance of any incident that causes hurt, alarm damage or distress.

Appropriate action will be taken by the practice which may involve removal from the practice list and/or involvement of the police. USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS

Belfast City Hospital 028 90329241 Mater Hospital 028 90741211 Musgrave Park Hospital 028 90902000 Lagan Valley Hospital 028 92665141 Royal Childrens Hospital 028 90240503 Royal Victoria Hospital 028 90240503 Citizens Advice Bureau 028 90428288 Samaritans 028 90664422 Womans Aid 028 91463608 Lifeline 0808 808 8000 GP Out of Hours Service 028 90744447 Action Cancer 028 90803344