Choose Well – if you need to use health and care services over Christmas and New Year

The following health and care arrangements will be in place should you or a member of your family become ill or have an accident. 

As part of the Choose Well campaign, we are encouraging everyone to “Think where and Choose well”.  Choosing the service most appropriate to your symptoms will mean you get the right treatment in the right place and will also help to manage your health service resources.  

Self care is the best choice to treat minor illnesses, ailments and injuries.  A range of common illnesses such as aches and pains, coughs, colds, upset stomachs and sore throats can be treated with over the counter medicines and plenty of rest.  Remember, whether treated or not, most of these will get better.

Pharmacy

Your local pharmacist can provide confidential, expert advice and treatment for a range of common illnesses and complaints.  The Health and Social Care Board has been working closely with local pharmacists to draw up holiday pharmacy rota arrangements.  The following pharmacies will be open from 12pm until 2pm on:

 Wednesday, 25th December 2013

• North Belfast -  **Boots UK Ltd, 493 Oldpark Road, Belfast                    
• West Belfast - **B&D Associates, 91/93 Glen Road, Belfast
• South Belfast - TMSK Ltd, 135 Upper Lisburn Road, Finaghy
• East Belfast - Boots UK Ltd, 257 Woodstock Road, Belfast

Thursday, 26th December 2013

• North Belfast - Robinson Ltd, 86 Cliftonville Road, Belfast                               
• West Belfast -  **BTA Pharma Ltd, 23/25 Clifton Street, Belfast
• South Belfast -  **Addy, 98 Botanic Avenue, Belfast
• East Belfast - **McKee Ltd, 50 Belmont Road, Belfast    

Wednesday, 1st January 2014

• North Belfast - **Graham, 82 York Road, Belfast             
• West Belfast - Fullarton Pharmacy Ltd, 209 Shankill Road, Belfast
• South Belfast -  **McMullan Ltd, 165 Lisburn Road, Belfast
• East Belfast - Austin, 344 Cregagh Road, Belfast 

** Domiciliary oxygen service

Please remember to order and collect any essential repeat prescription medications from your daytime GP surgery in advance of the holiday period. GP out of hours will only provide repeat prescriptions in exceptional circumstances.

Out of hours GP Service

The GP out of hours service is available if you require urgent medical care when your daytime GP surgery is closed.  Remember to telephone the service first.

The GP out of hours service will be operating for all GP Practices from the evening of Tuesday 24th December 2013 until Practices open on Friday, 27th December 2013.

It will also be operating over the New Year period from Tuesday evening, 31st December 2013 until GP Practices open on Thursday, 2nd January 2014.  The telephone number for the GP out of hours service is 028 9079 6220 (in south and east Belfast) or 028 9074 4447 (in north and west Belfast).

Out of hours Dental Services

Details of dental services will be displayed at dental surgeries. For out of hours urgent dental problems, patients should contact their dental surgery or visit www.hscboard.hscni.net/news/EmergencyDentalServices.html or ring the Relief of Dental Pain Clinic out of hours telephone number 028 9063 8486.  The Relief of Dental Pain Clinic is for the treatment of dental emergencies only, including trauma, swelling, uncontrolled bleeding and severe pain.

Out of hours Emergency Social Work Service

The out of hours Emergency Social Work Service is available outside normal office hours and on weekends, Bank Holidays and Public Holidays for genuine emergencies that cannot wait until the next working day.  You can contact the service on 028 9504 9999.

Emergency Departments

Emergency Departments provide the highest level of emergency care for patients, especially those with sudden and acute illness or severe trauma.  Normal Emergency Department services will be operating throughout the holiday period as usual.  The service is for those in need of emergency treatment.

999 Ambulance Service

As always, the emergency ambulance service will be there if you need it.  Always dial 999 when there is a risk to life or of serious injury.  But, if your call is not an emergency, then please use the most appropriate service and help keep the 999 system clear for life threatening emergencies.  Remember, you could risk a life if you tie up an emergency line for a non-emergency call.  Your call could delay someone with a real emergency.  Keep emergency lines free.

Further information about health and social care services in your area and the Choose Well campaign can be found at www.nidirect.gov.uk/choosewell

Please make sure you Choose Well and get the right treatment for you and your family and help manage your health services resources.

The Health and Social Care Service would like to wish you a safe and healthy Christmas and New Year.