The Castle Practice

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

Do's and Don'ts

Please ensure that:

  • You only order what you require on its due date.
  • You give 72 hours notice for ordering via telephone or front desk and ALL online order requests – for collection at a local pharmacy
  • Your medication doesn’t run out before you re-order.
  • If you have had medication before but it is no longer on repeat please provide the patient services advisor with details of which doctor prescribed it and the correct name of the medication.
  • You watch for patient notices in relation to ordering and collecting at holiday time.

Please do not:

  • Order antibiotics, flu medications or cough bottles for colds and flu. You can usually purchase appropriate remedies from the pharmacy.
  • Forget to collect your prescription – Uncollected prescriptions are destroyed every 2 weeks resulting in a waste of time and resources.
  • Ask for medication to take on holiday – The practice does not prescribe antibiotics and remedies for “just in case” scenarios.
Scroll to Top

Patients who Did Not Attend their appointments

DID NOT ATTEND (DNA)

DURING THE MONTH OF MARCH 2026

326 APPOINTMENTS WERE NOT ATTENDED

Patients complain that they cannot get an appointment, yet in 1 month alone a total of 326 appointments were not attended with no reason

What does this mean to YOU?………

12 minutes of wasted medical time per appointment

= 68 hours (9 working days) of wasted appointment time

How many times during these 68 hours were YOU not able to get an appointment?

5 minutes of wasted clerical time per patient contact

= 27 hours (3.5 working days) of wasted clerical time

How many times during these 27 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 **
ARE NOW AVAILABLE TO BOOK
FOR PATIENTS AGED 75 AND OVER
AND ALL IMMUNOSUPPRESSED PATIENTS
 
** FINAL CLINIC DATES **
19.05.2026
29.05.2026
 
WE ARE CONTACTING PATIENTS BY
TEXT AND TELEPHONE CALLS
 
**PLEASE CONTACT THE
PRACTICE ANY DAY AFTER 11:00 AM
TO BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT**
028 9331 5805
07513 985 168
07873 214 100
07873 211 433