Clinics

If you're planning to travel outside the UK, you may need to be vaccinated against some of the serious diseases found in other parts of the world.

As of 1st June 2018, we will no longer be able to offer a travel vaccination advice clinic.  This is non NHS work, however we will continue to provide any NHS vaccines needed once you have made an appointment with one of the following private travel clinics for assessment:

Andersons Pharmacy, 92 Thomas Street, Portadown, BT61 3AG.  Tel 028 3833 0266

Boots, Buttercrane Shopping Centre, Newry, BT35 8HJ.  Tel 028 3026 5544

Lisburn Travel Clinic, Lisburn Health Centre, Lisburn, BT28 1LU.  Tel 028 9250 1281

It is important to make this initial appointment as early as possible - at least 6 weeks before you travel.

 For further information, please click on the tab.

Cervical screening (a smear test) is a test performed by our practice nurse to check the health of the cervix and help prevent cervical cancer.  It is offered to women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64 years.

Currently, women aged 25-49 years are invited for screening every 3 years, and those aged 50-64 years are invited every 5 years.

• If you are worried that you may have symptoms of cervical cancer, do not wait for your next cervical screening appointment. (These symptoms may include bleeding between periods, during or after sex, after you have been through the menopause or unusual vaginal discharge).

You should receive a letter from the Public Health Agency when you are due for a smear test.  (If you are due a smear test but do not receive a letter you can still make an appointment with the Practice Nurse).

You can make an appointment for a cervical smear with our Practice Nurse by phoning our reception team.

Please ensure your contact details are up-to-date, as we may contact you via our text service if your result is normal.

For further information, please click on the tab.

The practice offers a wide range of family planning services.  

All methods are catered for, including Nexplanon (the contraceptive implant).  

Patients requesting ongoing contraceptive services and medication including the pill and the injection will be asked to see a doctor once a year for annual review of the suitability of ongoing prescription.  Please make your appointment in advance of your medication being due for renewal.

For further information on self referral services local to you, please click on the tab.

Asthma patients can be seen for assessment, education, advice and supervision or alteration of treatment.  The aim of this clinic is to diagnose accurately, treat efficently and get the best possible results following the British Thoracic Society's guidelines.  The clinic provides individual management plans and follow-up care. 

You will be invited for review with the Practice Nurse, GP or Pharmacist at least annually.  A reminder letter will be sent to you near the time and you are advised to telephone reception to book an appointment for a time that suits you.

If your symptoms are deteriorating or you have any concerns, please make an appointment.

For further information, please click on the tab.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the name for a group of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties.

It includes conditions such as:

• Emphysema - damage to the air sacs in the lungs
• Chronic bronchitis - long term inflammation of the airways

Common sympotms of COPD include:

• Shortness of breath - this may only happen when exercising at first, and you may sometimes wake up at night feeling breathless
• a persistent chesty cough with phlegm that does not go away
• frequent chest infections
• persistent wheezing

Click the link for more information on symptoms and diagnosis:

You may have some tests to help diagnose your condition. Tests used to help diagnose chronic airway disease are:

• Spriometry - you blow into a machine that measures how fast you can breathe out and how much air you can hold in your lungs.
• Peak flow test - You blow into a handheld device that measures how fast you can breathe out, and this may be done several times over a few weeks to see if it changes over time.

If you have Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease you will be invited for review at least annually with the Practice Nurse.  An appointment will be sent out to you when your review is due.  If your symptoms are deteriorating or you have any concerns, please make an appointment.

For further information on COPD, please click on the tab.

Coronary heart disease does not always have obvious symptoms.  In some people, it can cause chest pain (angina) or serious problems like heart attacks.

The main treatments for coronary heart disease are, healthy lifestyle changes and medicines.

Coronary heart disease is caused by a build-up of fatty substances in the blood vessels supplying the heart.  It is often liked to an unhealthy diet.

Coronary Heart Disease Clinics provide a service for monitoring patients with heart disease.  The clinic is run by the Practice Nurse.  Appointments are offered at least annually.  Patients are required to attend the treatment room one week prior to their review appointment to have blood tests taken.

For further information on Coronary Heart Disease, please click on the tab.

Diabetes is a condition related to abnormal blood sugar control.  If poorly managed, it can cause damage to many parts of the body.  

We aim to offer our diabetic patients a holistic approach to their condition. We aim to optimise lifestyle factors such as weight, smoking cessation, exercise, diet and sexual function.

We like to assess our diabetic patients on a regular basis to check factors such as blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, kidney function and mood.

Some of our overweight patients are offered a specialist diet, exercise and weight managment programme.

We aim to manage and educate all of our diabetic patients so they can take good care of their condition and work hard at minimising the effects of this disease.

We have a diabetic booklet for all of our diabetic patients which offers important information and a record keeping section so that our diabetic patients can be well informed abouth their condition.

The diabetic clinic is run by the Practice Nurse, who is experienced in diagnosing and treating diabetes. Appointments are offered on an annual basis or more frequently if required.  Patients are required to attend the treatment room one week prior to their review appointment to have blood tests taken.

For further information on Diabetes, please click on the tab.

We provide a same day photo triage dermatology referral service.  This involves referring you to a consultant dermatologist for expert advice on skin conditions such as lesions, rashes and moles - When you contact reception you will be asked to send in photographs of your skin complaint to your GP.

For further information on Photo Triage Dermatology Referral, please click on the tab.

All of our GP's are trained in offering sexual health advice and some screening for STDs.

Often when an STD is suspected, patients are advised to contact one of the local Genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics.  You can refer yourself by phoning numbers below, or alternatively click on this tab.

ROYAL VICTORIA HOSPITAL GUM CLINIC 028 9063 4050

ALTNAGELVIN GUM CLINIC 028 7161 1269

DAISY HILL GUM CLINIC 028 3083 5050

CAUSEWAY GUM CLINIC 028 7034 6028

The GUM clinics offer a confidential and thorough STD screening service.

You do not require a referral from your GP to attend and some of them offer a 'drop in' service.

For further information, please click on the tab.

You do not need an appointment with your GP for a midwives referral.

If you have already forwarded your referral form, could you please contact our reception team with the date of the first day of your last period.  This is so we can schedule you an appointment to have your pertussis vaccine at 15 weeks.

If you are pregnant and not taking pregnacare/folic acid, then please contact reception and request a prescription for folic acid.  (A recent height and weight will also be required).

For more information regarding care during your pregancy visit www.nhs.uk/pregnancy

For further information or to make a self referral, please click on the tab.

You do not need an appointment with your GP for a self referral to Physiotherapy.

For further information, or to make a self referral, please click on the tab.

Links Counselling Service is a charity that exists to make counselling accessible to everyone within the community.  Links Counselling Service provides confidential and professional counselling for children, young people, adults and couples to ensure that no one journeys alone.

For further information or to make a self referral, please click on the tab.

Text-A-Nurse service has been launched to provide young people with a secure and confidential text messaging service to a school nurse for advice and support.  The service is aimed at 11 to 19 year olds and is delivered by the school nursing teams.  The scheme will allow young people to seek advice about sensitive health issues, without a face to face appointment.  School nurses will provide help on a range of issues including, emotional health and wellbeing, alcohol and drugs, sexual health, bullying and general health issues.

For further information, please click on the tab.

A Minor Injuries Unit can treat injuries that are not critical or life-threatening.  You may wish to consider attending a Minor Injuries Unit if it is suitable for the type of injury that you have.

For further information, please click on the tab.

Do you have a sudden eye problem?  A red, painful or sticky eye(s)?  A sudden change in vision in one or both eyes?  Recent onset or sudden increase of flashes and/or floaters in one or both eyes?  Suspected foreign body in the eye?

If you are worried about a sudden onset eye problem, you can now access care from a local accredited optometrist.

The Northern Ireland Primary Eyecare Assessment and Referral Service (NI PEARS), allows patients to make an appointment with an accredited optometrist of their choice for assessment of their sudden eye problem.

An appointment will be offered within 48 hours by the optometrist to have the condition assessed, and where appropriate, treated at no cost through Health and Social Care (HSC).

For further information, please click on the tab.

The Phone First service is designed for patients, including children, who are feeling unwell and considering travelling to an Emergency Department or Urgent Care Treatment Centre with an injury or illness which requires urgent treatment but is not immediately life threatening.

 The 'Phone First' number to ring is 0300 123 3 111

For further information, please click on the tab.

The aim is that patients will present for advice and treatment for minor ailments at a pharmacy rather than a GP practice, for FREE confidential advice and treatment.

Therapeutic areas include the following:

• Acne Vulgaris
• Athlete' foot
• Acute Diarrhoea
• Ear Wax
• Groin Area Infection
• Haemorrhoids
• Head Lice
• Morning After Pill
• Mouth Ulcers
• Scabies
• Threadworms
• Oral Thrush
• Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)
• Vaginal Thrush
• Verrucae

Urinary Tract Infections - If you are female and aged between 16 and 64, you can be assessed and treated for Urinary Tract Infection symptoms in the majority of community pharmacies without having to wait for a GP appointment.

Symptoms of a UTI can include:

• Burning or stinging sensation on passing urine
• Needing to pass urine frequently or urgently
• Cloudy urine
• Passing excessive or large quantities of urine.

For further information, please click on the tab.