Primary Prevention
In our opinion the best time to offer help and encouragement in health education is at the normal consultation. Within this setting we offer the following: Eg advice on smoking, alcohol consumption, diet and immunisation.
Smoking Advice
The practice will initially be holding smoking cessation clinics with specialist nurse from Ulster Cancer Foundation from January 2005. Members of practice staff will also undertake training to become a specialist trainer and will run clinics in both surgeries. Please contact reception staff for further details.
Screening
Eg Blood pressure checks, cholesterol checks, cervical smears etc.
Family Planning
Doctors and nurses have experience in giving advice.
Maternity
Special antenatal and postnatal clinics are held in both surgeries. This is on a shared basis with local maternity hospitals.
Minor Surgery
Doctors will assess patient and make appointment to carry out minor surgery procedures e.g. removal of sebaceous cyst / joint injection.
Travel Immunisation / Vaccinations
Practice nurses carry out the above at the surgery except for Yellow Fever vaccination. For this vaccination, please make an appointment with the doctors so that your requirements can be determined and appropriate prescription given. It is best to have this at least eight weeks in advance of your travel to ensure adequate cover.
Flu Vaccine
It is very important that you attend for your flu vaccine when invited. Flu vaccine is given annually to the following groups of patients:
- All those aged 65 years and over
- All those aged over 6 months in the following clinical frisk groups
Chronic respiratory disease, including asthma
Chronic heart disease
Chronic renal disease
Diabetes
Immunosuppression (due to disease or treatment, including asplenia or splenic dysfunction)
The flu immunisation is not a live vaccine; this means you cannot get the flu from the vaccine!