Practice Closure - Easter Holidays

The surgery will be closed on:

Monday 21 April 25

Tuesday 22 April 25

We reopen as normal on Wednesday 23 April 2025.

Please be advised prescriptions ordered from 4pm on Friday 18/4/25 cannot be processed until we reopen on Wednesday. Please allow 48 hrs, from Wednesday, for your request to be processed & a further 24 hrs for it to arrive at your nominated pharmacy.

Important Information regarding Clinical System – April 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Unfortunately the providers of our current clinical system have withdrawn from the market.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.

It is anticipated we will be migrating to the new system towards the end of this year.  Unfortunately the exact dates have not been confirmed.

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 will be suspended at a later date.
• 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

Building Work at Old School Surgery - update

Old School Surgery recently received approval from the Strategic Planning and Performance Group (SPPG) to commence building and extension to the existing premises.

The purpose of this building is to enhance the services available at the practice once funding becomes available from the Department of Health.  These services may include physiotherapy, Social Worker and Mental Health Worker with administrative support.

The building work is nearing completion.  However, services cannot be introduced until the funding becomes available to the East Antrim Federation.  Recruitment has commenced but it may be 2026 before the services are operational.

Many thanks

The Partners at Old School Surgery

Vaccination Update

Information in respect of Shingles and MMR are located in Vaccination update on the right hand side.

CHANGE TO PRACTICE BOUNDARY

From 1/4/22 the Practice Boundary changed to encompass the following area:

Station Road Greenisland, left along Shore Road, Marine Highway Carrickfergus, turn left at Taylors Avenue connecting to Prince Andrew Way to North Road, left onto Middle Road, right to Lower Woodburn Road, left Lisglass Road to Irish Hill Road, left on Carntall Road, left at Doagh Road, right at Doagh Road, left to Station Road in Whiteabbey, left onto Shore Road returning to Greenisland

To view a mapped area please click on the link below:

Map of Area

Patients who currently reside outside the Practice Area will remain on the Practice list while they remain at their current address.  Should they move to another address outside the practice area they will be advised to register with a GP in their locality and removed from the practice list.

Patients registered outside the Practice Area who extend their family i.e. new birth, adoption or fostering may register with the Practice.  

Many thanks

Practice Update - September 2021

Please click on the link below for the latest update from the Surgery.   This information includes and audit on patient contacts and workload provided by the practice for a 12 month period as well as information on services available at the practice.

Practice Information Update - September 2021

Practice Telephone System - From: Friday 23 April 2021

We have now moved to a new telephone system.  When you contact the surgery you will be provided with a number of options,

If you have a critical emergency you should dial 999 and not wait to be connected to a member of staff.

Press 1 - Repeat Prescriptions - you will be connected with a member of the administration team between the hours of 11.00am to 12.30pm & 2.30pm to 4.00pm.  Outside these times until 5.30pm you can leave your name, date of birth, address and name and strength of medication you require. 

Press 2 - to book a telephone consultation with the GP.  Please note these consultations are limited & once they have been allocated each day you will be asked to ring the following day.  The administration staff will ask  questions on behalf of the doctor to ensure you are directed to the appropriate healthcare professional i.e. queries regarding medication will be directed to one of our Practice Based Pharmacists.

Press 3 - General Enquires.

Please note:  if you leave a message on our repeat prescription line for issues not related to a medication order your request will not be processed.

We would like to thank everyone for your patience and kindness shown to our staff.  Unfortunately, a minority feel it is appropriate to verbally abuse our staff and this cannot be tolerated.  Such behaviour may result in your removal from the practice list.