Lodge Health

20/06/2025

We are unable to prescribe Benzodiazepines for flying.

18/06/2025

Sharing for our fellow local practices. If you know anyone registered with Riverside Medical Coleraine

‼️New clinical system at Riverside Medical‼️

Riverside Medical will be changing our clinical system between the 18th June 2025 and 25th June 2025; this will cause a significant disruption to our services in the practice during this time.

We will remain open over this period but we have limited access to patient records and our services will be reduced.

We will be providing emergency appointments only, emergency prescriptions only, and emergency blood tests.

There will be delays in getting lab results and a delay in requests for new registrations with the exception of baby registrations.

The practice will still be open and our reception team will be answering calls, during this time we will be operating for “urgent care only” which will be for emergency issues requiring urgent medical attention on that day.

Requests for routine appointments, non-urgent prescriptions, enquires, medical record requests, sick lines and medicals will be affected during this time.

We recommend that you order your repeat medications earlier if they are due around the time of the introduction of the new clinical system.

Reminder:
“Pharmacy first” is available at your local participating community pharmacy, this service offers many free treatments for a range of ailments. Pharmacy first offers free advice and treatment for every day health conditions (e.g. acne, diarrhoea, earwax, head lice, oral thrush, threadworms and vaginal thrush etc.) emergency hormonal contraception (the morning after pill), urinary tract infections, sore throats and shingles.

NIPEARS is a service provided by most optometry practices across Northern Ireland for patients who have developed a sudden eye problem within the previous 14 days, such as: Red eye(s); pain and/or discomfort in the eyes, or around the eye area, sudden reduction in vision in one or both eyes, recent onset or sudden increase of flashes and/or floaters in one or both eyes, something in your eye that you can’t remove yourself. Contact your local participating opticians for further information.

We apologise for the inconvenience caused during this time. Please share this post with friends and family.

10/06/2025

Nominations are now open for Practice of the Year. Our team work very hard to go above and beyond to ensure patients get the help they need, be that repeat prescriptions, signposting to the correct clinician. If you feel the team is deserving of this reward. Please drop us a Nomination on the link.

04/06/2025

Please be aware to allow 3 working days for any repeat prescriptions. We process over 1000 scripts per day. It is not a 5 minute job. To allow safe prescribing there are procedures that need to be followed between a number of staff.

Should you find yourself out of your regular repeat medication, your nominated chemist will be able to process an emergency script of you on most medications.

03/06/2025

Would you like to vote for us as Practice of the Year and or your GP?

03/06/2025

You may have heard about the reimbursement scheme on recent news.

Should you wish to find out more, please use the link below for further information. There is an application form for reimbursement and a telephone number.

https://online.hscni.net/our-work/travelfortreatment/wl-reimbursement/

30/05/2025

The Health Minister has confirmed that the new Waiting List Reimbursement Scheme will commence on 2 June 2025.

Report - https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/news/minister-confirms-2-june-launch-waiting-list-reimbursement-scheme

A dedicated online information hub – available on 2 June from 10am - will provide full guidance on how to apply, eligibility criteria, frequently asked questions, and access to the application form.

Available here - https://online.hscni.net/our-work/travelfortreatment/

23/05/2025

The Practice will be closed from 12.45 on Wednesday 28th for staff training.

See below if you have a medical emergency.

On 24hr repeat prescriptions line will still be available.

22/05/2025

Macmillan Cancer Support in Partnership with Mindwise have a Psychosocial team to ensure the whole family receives support with people living with cancer.
Also with other partners to help with Mental Health support.

21/05/2025

Lodge Health
will be CLOSED on

Bank Holiday
Monday 26th May 2025

Our 24hrs services - online and voicemail for ordering repeat prescriptions will still be accessible. However, please be aware that any repeat prescription ordered after 4pm on Friday 23th May will only be processed on Tuesday 27th May, when we re-open.

You should allow 72 working hours
(Not including weekends and bank holidays) for your prescriptions to be processed and to reach your nominated chemist.

Have a wonderful bank holiday weekend to all our patients

20/05/2025

BENZODIAZEPINES FOR FEAR OF FLYING

This information is why Lodge Health is unable to prescribe Benzodiazepines (such as Diazepam) to patients for fear of flying. Many other GP practices have a similar policy.

· They are sedating drugs which can cause safety concerns:

Ø If you are drowsy, your reaction times may be slower, and you may be unable to act quickly in an emergency on-board a flight.
Ø If you are drowsy, you may move around less and sit for longer, increasing the risk of a DVT (Blood clot) in the leg or even lung. This can have serious (even fatal outcomes.

· The can cause respiratory depression (slower breathing rate) which can be dangerous as blood oxygen levels are already reduced at high altitude.

· It is possible that they can cause agitation and confusion which may put other passengers at risk.

· They are a controlled (regulated) drug in the UK and we must prescribe medications safely:

Ø The use of Benzodiazepines to treat phobia (fear) is contraindicated (i.e. not allowed) – this is the advice given in the BNF (drug formulary) – which is the manual used for information about drugs.
Ø They are only indicated for severe or disabling anxiety – we would not advocate flying if a patient was suffering from this.

· Benzodiazepines are illegal in some countries meaning you may risk breaking the law if you take these medications with you.

· They should not be mixed with alcohol which may be available to buy on or before a flight.

We appreciate patients may have a genuine fear of flying. Several of the big UK-based airlines provide ‘Fear of Flying’ courses which you may wish to investigate.

Thanking you for your understanding in this matter.

20/05/2025

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