PRACTICE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Receptionists
These are probably the first members of the practice team you will meet or talk to. They may ask for details of your illness. These will be treated confidentially. They have been trained to make these enquiries on our behalf. The receptionists do a difficult job, we ask you to please be patient with them and treat them with respect.

Practice Nurse
The practice nurses, between the two surgeries, will see patients each weekday morning and afternoon (excluding Wednesday afternoon) for investigations, family planning, contraceptive services, cervical smears, immunisations, dietary advice, blood pressure checks etc. Appointments are available by telephoning reception.

Psychiatric Nurse
Psychiatric Nurse provides emotional, as well as practical support for our patients. This includes bereavement counselling, anxiety management and relaxation advice. Patients’ referral can only be made through the doctor.

Cognitive Therapy in Primary Care
The Practice at present have two second year trainee therapists from the Belfast Cognitive Therapy Centre, who are trained to work only with recent onset clinical disorders, i.e. those presenting in the past year. Referrals to the above can only be made though the GP.

Pharmacists
The practice at present has two pharmacists who look after all patient prescribing and will also see patients on behalf of the doctors to discuss medication issues where appropriate.