Noticeboard



We have taken steps to reduce risk of Coronavirus by reverting to telephone triage. This is to protect the most vulnerable of our patients as well as the staff.  When you ring us, our staff will ask you some questions to determine your condition.   Some of these questions may include if you have a temperature or a cough. These questions will help us to determine the best action to take but also helps protect our staff and other vulnerable patients.

Please DO NOT ATTEND THE SURGERY without a prior appointment.

When you do attend for either a GP or nurse appointment, we are also asking that once you have advised of your arrival you then return to your car and you will be called in.   We have closed our waiting room, again in an effort to control the virus.

We would also advise that for the present time we are no longer completing private reports, HGV medicals, life insurance forms etc., and would suggest that you may wish to attend a private clinic for these.

Reminder - we have online ordering for your repeat medicines which is our preferred way for you to order - please ask at reception for your first time unique log in so you can bypass the phone system.

When the Surgery is closed, please contact the GP Out of hours for the Southern Trust area which is 028 3839 9201. For our patients living in the South Eastern Trust Area your number is 028 9260 2204

Reminder to all patients: Please allow 72hrs (that's three full working days ) for repeat prescriptions to be issued.

We want to empower our patients to enable them to care for themselves and their loved ones for minor ailments. The Self Care forum website is designed for patients to access information on managing their symptoms themselves and advising when to seek medical help.

WEBSITE: http://www.selfcareforum.org/ or scroll down for some more information on specific ailments

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Here are links to some common ailments:

1 Sore throat how to treat your sore throat

2 Cough in adults how to manage your cough

3 Sinus infections how to manage a sinus infection yourself

4 Earache how to manage earache symptoms

5 Fever in children how to assess a child with a temperature

Prediabetes

Are you a prediabetic?

About 1 in 4 adult patients in Ballyward are prediabetic.

Their blood sugars are higher than normal but not as high as in diabetes.

Those who are prediabetic are between 5-15 times more likely to get diabetes eventually.

Check on your risk of developing diabetes here.

If your risk is moderate or high, book a fasting blood glucose with the Nurse. 

Fasting Blood Glucose

A fasting blood glucose is checked in the morning after an overnight fast with no food or drink on the morning of the test.

The result can be 

  • normal
  • high in keeping with diabetes
  • above normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetic. This is the prediabetic group.

Good News

If you have prediabetes, you can reduce your risk of developing diabetes by

  • dietary care
    • smaller portion sizes
    • change in eating pattern
  • Exercising on a daily basis

Advice about a healthy diet

Advice about exercise

Information about prediabetes