We try to keep our GP appointments for patients with more serious health problems.
Before you book an appointment to see a doctor please consider whether an appointment with a member of our Multi Disciplinary Team would benefit you more. They can help you with a wide range of problems.
Our receptionists are trained to navigate all calls and will be able to help refer you to the appropriate team member.
Multi Disciplinary Team
Social Workers – Jacqueline O’Connell and Bernie Mullan-O’Kane
General Practice Social Workers have joined the multi-disciplinary team within our practice. Your social wellbeing affects how you feel about yourself, how well you function and the overall quality of your life. Issues which affect your social wellbeing may have a significant impact on your physical or mental health.
Our Social Workers can discuss any problems you have and explore what is important to you. They will provide you with practical advice, help and support in order to address these problems.
Types of support our Social Workers can provide:
- Isolation or loneliness
- Carer support
- Relationship difficulties
- Parenting difficulties
- Housing difficulties
- Stress
- Bereavement
- Traumatic life events
- Financial difficulties
- Alcohol and drug issues
Mental Health Worker – Louise Connolly specialises in mental health problems including:
- Depression
- Anxiousness
- Suicide Prevention
- Stress related Problems
- Relationship Issues
- Crisis Intervention
- Bereavement Support
- Refer you to another service if required.
- Direct you to community based activities.
Physiotherapist – Pauline Campbell specialises in problems with joint muscles and soft tissue (back pain, neck pain, painful joints or sprains and strains). Pauline will be able to
- Diagnose your condition.
- Offer you advice & exercises to manage your condition.
- Request investigation as appropriate.
- Refer you to another service if required.
- Direct you to community based activities.
Pharmacists – Dior McWilliams and Louise Bonham is available to help with the following:
- Processing hospital letters and outpatient letters.
- Involvement with practice Diabetic Clinic.
- Involvement with practice Asthma Clinic.
- Assisting in medication reviews.
- Ensuring regular monitoring of mediations is carried out where appropriate.
- Providing support with medication queries.
- Managing drug alerts.
- Ensuring cost effective prescribing is being actioned in line with the Northern Ireland formulary and regular review of this.
If you would like to arrange an appointment or telephone call with one of the above Professionals please speak to one of our receptionists who will be happy to help.
Self care
If you have a cough, cold, headache or other minor ailment try treating yourself at home first. Find out more about treatments for common minor ailments.
Please remember that self-care for common conditions can help free up our GPs’ time, making it easier to get an appointment when you have a more serious condition.
Your Community Pharmacist can help too
Pharmacists are highly trained health professionals and can give you confidential health advice for a range of common illnesses and complaints.
Don’t wait for a GP appointment for coughs, colds, aches and pains. Just give your local pharmacy a call or drop in – there’s no need to make an appointment.
Your pharmacists can also help you decide if you need to see a doctor or nurse.
Click here for more information about how pharmacies can help you.
For your nearest pharmacy please click here.
When we are closed
If you require urgent attention outside normal hours please telephone 02871 865 195 and you will speak to a nurse or doctor from Western Urgent Care which is based at the Out Patient Department at Altnagelvin Hospital. Telephone calls to this number are recorded.
Out-of-hours services are generally busy so please think carefully before asking to see a doctor and only do so if you genuinely cannot wait until the surgery re-opens.
In a genuine emergency you should call 999. Chest pains and/or shortness of breath constitute an emergency.
A&E
A&E is for life-threatening accidents and emergencies only. Before you go there, ask yourself, “Is it a real emergency?”
If not, please consider using other local health services before you visit A&E.