The Castle Practice

The Health Centre | Taylors Avenue | Carrickfergus | BT38 7HU

From June 2025 patients should arrange their Midwife Antenatal appointments by contacting Midwife Dana Andrews on 028 9331 5833.  Leave a message on her answer service and she will call you back to arrange your appointment.  Please note, the reception staff in the practice cannot book these appointments.

An initial appointment with the Midwife will be between 16-18 weeks gestation. This appointment can be brought forward if pregnancy complications occur or if assistance is required with self referral to the Hospital.

Electronic Self-Referral(see leaflet for more details) for pregnancy with online interactive resources. As soon as you have had a positive pregnancy test you can refer yourself directly for Maternity Care in the Northern Health and Social Care Trust. Use a link to the hospital of your choice below:
Antrim Area Hospital Maternity Referral, Lagan Valley & Ulster Hospital Maternity Referrals & Mater or Jubilee Hospital Referral (see leaflets for more details)

Referral can be posted or emailed directly to the hospital (details available on the form) and upon receipt of a referral the hospital will offer an initial booking appointment between 10-14 weeks gestation.

Antenatal Schedule

Approximately 6 to 8 Weeks

Care Provided by: Midwife

Location: Health Centre

Action: First antenatal booking with Midwife.Routine base line health check and history taken and records.Advice given on diet, folic acid, smoking, breast feeding and parentcraft.Ante-natal screening test explained.

Referral sent to hospital

Approximately 12 to 14 Weeks

Care Provided by: Consultant

Location: Hospital

Action: Hospital Booking; antenatal bloods

Approximately 16 to 18 Weeks

Care Provided by: Midwife

Location: Health Centre

Action: Routine ante-natal check

Approximately 20 to 22 Weeks

Care Provided by: Consultant

Location: Hospital

Action: Scan

Approximately 24 Weeks

Care Provided by: Midwife

Location: Health Centre

Action: Routine ante-natal check

Approximately 28 Weeks

Care Provided by: Midwife (if Rhneg, appointment will be at hospital) 

Location: Health Centre

Action: Routine ante-natal check.Further advice given on parentcraft and breastfeeding.Commence oral iron if necessary

Approximately 31 Weeks

Care Provided by: Midwife 

Location: Health Centre

Action: Routine ante-natal check.

Approximately 34 Weeks

Care Provided by: Consultant

Location: Hospital

Action: Scan

Approximately 36 Weeks

Care Provided by: Midwife 

Location: Health Centre

Action: Routine ante-natal check.

Approximately 38 Weeks

Care Provided by: Midwife 

Location: Health Centre

Action: Routine ante-natal check.

Approximately 39 Weeks

Care Provided by: Midwife 

Location: Health Centre

Action: Routine ante-natal check.

Full Term

Care Provided by: Consultant

Location: Hospital

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Patients who Did Not Attend their appointments

DID NOT ATTEND (DNA)

DURING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2026

260 APPOINTMENTS WERE NOT ATTENDED

Patients complain that they cannot get an appointment, yet in 1 month alone a total of 260 appointments were not attended with no reason

What does this mean to YOU?………

12 minutes of wasted GP time per appointment

= 52 hours (6.5 working days) of wasted GP appointment time

How many times during these 52 hours were YOU not able to get an appointment?

5 minutes of wasted clerical time per patient contact

= 21 hours (2.5 working days) of wasted clerical time

How many times during these 21 hours were YOU trying to book an appointment?

You can cancel your appointment in the following ways:

by phoning or texting our mobile number – 07813 985 168

by emailing reception at [email protected]

Further detailed information – https://www.castlepractice.co.uk/?p=14066&preview=true 

COVID SPRING BOOSTERS 2026

CLOSURE INFORMATION

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE SURGERY WILL BE CLOSED ON

TUESDAY 17th MARCH 2026

AND WILL RE-OPEN AT 8:30 AM ON

WEDNESDAY 18th MARCH 2026

IF YOU REQUIRE URGENT MEDICAL CARE

PLEASE CONTACT DALRIADA URGENT CARE ON

028 2566 3500

PLEASE NOTE – THIS NUMBER IS FOR

URGENT MEDICAL CARE

WHICH CANNOT WAIT UNTIL YOUR

GP SURGERY RE-OPENS,

NOT FOR ROUTINE QUERIES

Castle Practice

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE SURGERY WILL BE

CLOSED FOR TRAINING FROM 1:00 PM

ON WEDNESDAY 25th FEBRUARY 2026

 

AND WILL RE-OPEN AT 8:30 AM ON

THURSDAY 26th FEBRUARY 2026

 

IF YOU REQUIRE URGENT MEDICAL CARE

PLEASE DIAL 028 9331 5804