The Castle Practice

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

Appointments

All appointments can be made by telephoning the practice on 028 9331 5805 from 8:30, the list will close once we reach capacity. 

You can also email any non urgent requests for appointments to: [email protected]; we will contact you within 72 hours to arrange or discuss same.

Consultations

Consultations are available Monday – Friday

Please ensure that you make a separate appointment for each person and bear in mind that consultations are 10 minutes in duration.

We would point out that if you have booked a 10 minute appointment with the GP that this is in line with NHS recommendations so that we can offer the required amount of appointments, per patient, per annum, for our practice population. Where possible we would ask all our patients to try and keep within this allotted time. The best way you can help us to do this is to bring one problem at a time. If you feel you need longer with your GP, please let the receptionist know when you are booking your appointment and they will try to arrange an additional date.

It is important for all patients to adhere to the 10 minute appointment time as it avoids other patients waiting longer than necessary to be called.

On The Day Call Lists

We run a GP Telephone Consultation list from 8:30 am, the list will close once we reach capacity.

Our Patient Service Advisers (administration/reception staff will ask you for brief details and information to allow the GP to assess your call appropriately. The information on the call list will be assessed by a clinician through the telephone call back system. You may be called back by either a GP or Patient Service Adviser to be offered an appointment the same day, or you may be offered an appointment in the next 7-10 days, depending on the Clinicians Assessment. Or appropriate navigation to services available. Please note a Clinician will always assess your call and all our staff are bound by confidentiality.

Please do not call at the reception desk to access the call list as this may result in a long waiting time. Remain at home and telephone your request on 028 9331 5805. Our system will allow you to be dealt with promptly.

Telephone Consultations

If you feel you need to pass some information on to your GP, please contact reception on 028 9331 5805 and a receptionist will happily pass the information on.

If you have received a message directly from your GP, and they have requested that you call them back, you should do so by calling 028 9331 5805 before 12:30 pm and leave up to date and accessible contact details for the GP to return the call.

Cancellations / DNA

If you cannot attend an appointment for any reason please inform us as soon as possible in order for us to give the slot to someone else.

Each month, approximately 250+!! patients Do Not Arrive (DNA) for their appointment without giving any prior warning or notice for cancellation.

Please ensure you cancel if you cannot attend, where possible with at least 24 hours notice, either by telephone or TEXT your Name, DOB and appointment details to 07513 985 170. (NB this text service is for incoming cancellation TEXTS ONLY, we cannot, and will not, respond to any queries or messages on this number)

Patients who continue to abuse the appointment systems by DNA will be subject to implementation of the practice policy for DNA management. (A copy of which is available at reception or can be viewed and printed here):

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PRACTICE CLOSURE

THE CASTLE PRACTICE

IMPORTANT PATIENT NOTICE

AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY

 

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE SURGERY WILL BE CLOSED ON

MONDAY 25th AUGUST 2025

AND WILL RE-OPEN AT 8:30 AM ON

TUESDAY 26th AUGUST 2025

 

If you require URGENT MEDICAL CARE 

please call DALRIADA URGENT CARE

028 2566 3500

GP COLLECTIVE ACTION
BMA UNION

DID YOU KNOW…?

   

 

 

 

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

Your support for our Practice and staff is appreciated

PRACTICE CLOSURE

THE CASTLE PRACTICE

IMPORTANT PATIENT NOTICE

JULY HOLIDAYS

 

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE SURGERY WILL BE CLOSED ON

MONDAY 14th JULY 2025

TUESDAY 15th JULY 2025

AND WILL RE-OPEN AT 8:30 AM ON

WEDNESDAY 16th JULY 2025

 

 

If you require URGENT MEDICAL CARE on

MONDAY 14th JULY 2025

please call DALRIADA URGENT CARE

028 2566 3500

 

If you require URGENT MEDICAL CARE on

TUESDAY 15th JULY 2025

please call 028 9331 5804

 

PLEASE ENSURE TO ORDER YOUR

REPEAT PRESCRIPTIONS IN TIME FOR

COLLECTION FOR THE HOLIDAY CLOSURES

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