BBC Health Sars-like virus death reported in UK A patient infected with a new respiratory illness similar to the deadly Sars virus has died in the UK. 'Bionic legs' for military amputees Injured military personnel who have legs amputated are to be given the most up-to-date prosthetic limbs after the government set aside £6.5m. Four A&E units being downgraded Accident and Emergency (A&E) units at four London hospitals are to be downgraded. Fizzy drinks tax needed - doctors Fiz

De-prescribing means reducing the numbers of medications being prescribed to you. Sometimes medications can keep being added and none are removed - resulting "polypharmacy" and all the risks associated, such as drug interactions and increased side effects. The Dept of Health are making "de-prescribing" an area of focus for the forthcoming year. Nutritional Supplements The vast majority of patients do not need prescribed vitamin supplements. A healthy balanced diet should pro

We are running Flu and Covid vaccine clinics in the surgery on the following dates: Wednesday 16th October Wednesday 23rd October Wednesday 30th October - TBC Contact the practice after 11AM by telephoning 02890451000 to book your appointment and help protect yourself against winter viruses now. RSV Vaccine - The RSV vaccine helps protect against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) . RSV is a common cause of coughs and colds. Most people get it several times during their l

Common infections Most common illnesses don’t need antibiotics and can be treated with over-the-counter medicines. Call in to your local pharmacist to find out more, as part of the Living Well campaign visit www.pha.site/antibiotics #LivingWellNI

Antibiotics are great, but are NOT needed for every infection, and often won't work. For more information click on the link below and check out the videos...

The Pharmacy Forum NI will be endorsing he new Penicillin Allergy Checklist for pharmacists and other medical professionals rolling them out NI-wide in the week beginning 23rd September. The checklist will help pharmacists and other healthcare professionals to diagnose if a patient is allergic to penicillin or not. In September of last year, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS – responsible for England, Scotland, and Wales) rolled out the new Penicillin Allergy Guidelines

Regional HSC mental health campaign Public Health Agency (PHA) and Health and Social Care (HSC) organisations have launched this year’s HSC mental health and emotional wellbeing campaign urging people to prioritise workplace mental health . Between World Suicide Prevention Day (10 September) and World Mental Health Day (10 October), the five Trusts, Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) and PHA are encouraging people to take 10 minutes for mental health self-care using th

The practice will be CLOSED on the afternoon of Wednesday 20th November for staff training. Re-opening 8.30am Thursday 21st November. As usual, there will be emergency out of hours GP cover still available for any emergencies that cannot wait until Thursday 21st November. Contact details: Emergency doctors on call (from 1pm-6pm) : 07809427776 From 6pm onwards Sebdoc (Forster green) Out of hours GP : 02890796220

WAAW aims to increase awareness of global antimicrobial resistance (AMR). We all have an important part to play in limiting antibiotic resistance in order to preserve antibiotics for their intended use; fighting bad bacterial infections. This winter as colds and flus become more prevalent please remember there are actions you can take to help health workers in preventing Antimicrobial resistance: Return unwanted antibiotics to the community pharmacy

Pharmacy First Sore Throat Service will be available from contracted community pharmacies across Northern Ireland from 1st December. This service will facilitate the assessment and treatment of people with symptoms of sore throat aged 5 years and over. For more details contact your local pharmacy.

Hay fever season is upon us. Did you know that you no longer need to see your doctor for management of hay fever symptoms? GP's, nurses and practice pharmacists will no longer give you a prescription for managing your hay fever symptoms however community pharmacists are able to offer advice on how to avoid triggers and how to treat your hay fever. You do not need a prescription for hay fever medications - many treatments are available at little cost from your local pharmacy

Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. It also helps people who don't think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much-needed support. For more information please visit www.carersweek.org