Flu and COVID-19 vaccinations from October 2025

We are currently preparing our invitations to those who are eligible for vaccination.  All eligible patients will receive a letter or text message to invite them for vaccination.

The Covid vaccination programme has been changed this year and not all individuals are eligible for this vaccine.  Further information is outlined below.

Getting your vaccinations every year, if you’re eligible, tops up your protection and reduces your risk of getting severe symptoms.

Vaccination administered by your GP Practice

Who should have the flu vaccine:

The flu vaccine is recommended for people at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu.

It’s offered on the NHS every year in autumn or early winter.

You can get the free NHS flu vaccine if you:

• are aged 65 or over (including those who will be 65 by 31 March 2026)
• have certain long-term health conditions
• are pregnant
• are the main carer for an older or disabled person, or receive a carer’s allowance
• live with someone who has a weakened immune system

Children’s flu vaccine

The children’s flu vaccine is recommended for:

• children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2025 (born between 1 September 2021 and 31 August 2023) –
• children aged 6 months to 17 years with certain long-term health conditions

Who should have the COVID-19 vaccine

You can get the winter COVID-19 vaccine if you:

• are aged 75 or over (including those who will be 75 by 31 January 2026)
• are aged 6 months to 74 years and have a weakened immune system because of a health condition or treatment

Further information in respect of eligibility and vaccination is available at:

Covid : www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/COVID-19-vaccine

Influenza: www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/flu-vaccine

Industrial Action by GP's

Due to industrial action the doctors will be limiting the number of routine consultations on a daily basis.  The number of telephone calls will be based on Safe Working guidance issued by the European Union of General Practitioners & the British Medical Association.   The industrial action is to address the funding crisis in General Practice within Northern Ireland.    

If you would like to support General Practice secure additional funding please write to your local MLA or directly to Mick Nesbitt, Health Minister for Northern Ireland.

Thank you from the Partners at Old School Surgery

 Important Information regarding Clinical System – July 2025

Unfortunately the providers of our current clinical system have withdrawn from the market.  As a result all GP Practices who currently use Vision (Cegedim) throughout Northern Ireland will be moving to a new EMIS system.  EMIS is currently used by a large number of Practices in Northern Ireland.

We will be migrating to the new system towards in November of this year.  

This will be a huge undertaking for the practice and we will be supported through the transition period by the, Business Services Organisation, EMIS & Department of Health.

There will be no adverse effects from a patient perspective following the move.  However, there are a few areas we need to suspend or close existing systems, for example:

• New requests for on-line services has  be suspended.
• Online Repeat Medication requests via Patient Services will be closed (the new operating system is not compatible with our existing service).
• Registrations will be suspended 8 weeks prior to the migration process.

Once we have moved to the EMIS online services, a new registration for online services will be required.   We will continue to update you once more information becomes available.

Thank you

Practice Closure

The practice will be closed on:

Thursday 25 December 2025 & Friday 26 December 2025 - Medical Emergencies please ring Dalriada Urgent Care on 02825663500.

The surgery reopens on Tuesday 29 December 2025 as normal.

Please note requests on online prescriptions cannot be processed while the surgery is closed.