We often hear complaints from patients about difficulties getting through on the phones. The phone system is set up and managed by the South Eastern Trust. We have 5 incoming lines with 3 or 4 staff members answering the phones every morning. The 4th and 5th caller will go into the queue and after that you will hear an engaged tone.

Be aware that incoming calls can last up to 3 or 4 minutes depending on the caller so we appreciate your patience. Our receptionists do a very demanding and sometimes difficult job. The doctors prioritise all patient requests and they need to safeguard patient safety. Once they reach capacity, you will be advised to recontact the following day.   

We now have our full compliment of Multi-disciplinary staff: first contact physio, social worker and social work assistant and a mental health practitioner - you can self refer to any of these. 

Routine appointments are available with doctors, advanced nurse practitioner, treatment room and GP nurse and can be booked up to 2 weeks in advance.

Requests for URGENT and/or EMERGENCY appointments should be made before 9.30am. Our Clinical Administrators will ask for details of your condition or concerns to enable the clinician to triage patients in order of priority.  In line with BMA guidance, once safe capacity is reached, we are unable to book further appointments. If you  have a problem you feel cannot safely wait until the next day you may be directed to a member of our multi-disciplinary team or another NHS service such as Phone First, Minor injuries, the Emergency Department or after 6pm GP Out of Hours.  For Minor Ailments such as coughs, colds, sore throats please consult our website or your community pharmacist first.

For test results, non urgent queries and routine matters please phone after 11am.  Our Clinical Admin team try to answer all calls as quickly as possible, so thank you for your patience and understanding.

URGENT CARE

An Urgent Care Centre is a consultant led service equipped to diagnose and deal with many of the most common ailments people attend an Emergency Department for. 

There are two Urgent Care Centre’s in the South Eastern Trust – Lagan Valley and Downe

Those contacting the service will be triaged and offered an appointment within the urgent care service or directed to the most appropriate service.

Downe Hospital
8am- 6pm, Monday – Friday (028) 4483 8091

MINOR INJURIES

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

What can be treated at a Minor Injuries Unit

Types of injuries treated can include:

• Injuries to upper and lower limbs

• Broken bones, sprains, bruises and wounds

• Bites – human, animal and insect

• Burns and scalds

• Abscesses and wound infections

• Minor head injuries

• Broken noses and nosebleeds

• Foreign bodies in the eyes and nose

Ulster hospital  Minor Injuries every day– 8am – 6pm – walk in service and phone first

(Ards minor injuries unit is now closed)

Downe Hospital, Monday – Friday 8am- 6pm.  Saturday and Sunday 9am – 5pm

Phone first 02844838091. If your injury is assessed as appropriate for attendance you will be given an appointment. Alternatively you may be given advice by phone or referred to another service.

For adults, click on this link:  https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/campaigns/illnesses-and-conditions

For unwell children, you can also use the Children Symptom Checker https://belfasttrust.hscni.net/hospitals/childrens/childrens-symptom-checker/ 

*****If in the event of a medical emergency such as a heart attack or stroke - please phone 999 *****

****Repeat prescriptions should be requested in writing. Use your re-order form to tick the items you need and leave in to the health centre. Why not sign up for online repeat prescriptions? Ask a member of staff.

Private Consultations: We do not offer private GP services, however you may wish to contact one of the private providers such as Kingsbridge in Belfast.