The following numbers for Janauary 2024:

• 1245 Appointments booked in the Treatment Room
• 138 Appointments booked and not attended
• 2,448 Daily triage slots actioned by a clinician
• 2,452 Hospital letters actioned by Practice Staff
• 6,235 Prescriptions requested
• 11,484 Incoming Telephone Calls to the Practice
• 20,133 General Administration Tasks
• 48 Home Visits by a GP
• 3,304 Face to Face Surgery Consultations
• 484 Traige Telephone calls from patients
• 766 Triage Telephone calls to patients
• 3,143 patient results reviewed

All patients aged between 50 and 65 years of age are being invited to receive their flu vaccine at Meadowbridge Surgery.

To book an appointment, go online via patient facing services or alternatively, contact the surgery after 09:30am on 0289 335 3454. Eligible patients can receive their flu vaccine here at the surgery until the end of March 2024.

Covid vaccines are no longer offered at the Meadowbridge. However, eligible patients who have yet to receive their vaccine can go to the following:

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/get-covid-19-vaccination-northern-ireland

 to find out where they can avail of this service.

Choking is caused by something blocking your child’s airway so that they can’t breathe. They may cough, go red in the face and struggle for breath. It’s easy for children to choke on small objects, so make sure the area around your child is clear and don’t give them whole grapes, nuts or boiled sweets, stay with them whilst they are eating.

What to do if your baby or child is choking

Try and keep calm

• Look in the childs mouth and see if there is an object which can be easily taken from their mouth.
• DO NOT stick your fingers far back in their mouth or down their throat, as this can puch an object that you can’t see further down and make things worse.
• If your baby is able to cough, encourge them to carry on doing this to help clear the object.
• If your baby is distressed and unable to cry, cough or breathe, back blows (firm slaps on the back with the heel of the hand) may help.

• 1st February: Dignity Action Day 
  https://www.dignityincare.org.uk/Dignity-in-Care-events/Dignity_Action_Day/
• 1st February: Time to Talk Day 
  https://timetotalkday.co.uk/
• 4th February: World Cancer Day 
  https://www.worldcancerday.org/
• 5th – 11th February: Children’s Mental Health Week 
  https://www.childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk/about/
• 5th – 11th February: Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week 
  https://sexualabuseandsexualviolenceawarenessweek.org/
• 29th February: Eating Disorders Awareness Week 
  https://edaw.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/

Supporting children, young people, women and men who have experienced rape, sexual violence and abuse.

What is The Rowan?

The Rowan is a specialist regional centre which provides a range of support and services for victims of sexual violence, including rape and sexual abuse. They are there to help you recover both physically and emotionally.

How can I contact The Rowan?

You can phone on: 0800 389 4424

• They can provide emotional support; support in making, if you choose, a report to police, if not already done.
• Signposting onto other support services; such as:
  • counselling services
  • your local GUM clinic
  • Victim support NI
• Provide support for partners, family and friends

When is The Rowan open?

If you have any queries you can contact the office between 9:00am and 5:00pm, Monday to Friday on 02894 424 340. The Helpline number is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year: 0800 389 4424

An appointment to attend is required and this can be done by contacting The Rowan directly or if you have already contacted the Police, they will arrange a time for you.

For more information contact The Rowan on 0800 389 4424 or visit the website: www.therowan.net The Rowan is located on the site of Antrim Area Hospital and directions can be dound on their website.

Providing support to individuals and families in crisis

The Cithrah Foundation is a Christian organisation, which started in 2000. It was set up to support people and families to recover from the impact of domestic abuse. In Hebrew, Cithrah means a cover, a hiding or a safe place.

Services

• Cithrah Counselling Services
• Advice and Information
• Housing and Benefit
• Individual Support
• Personal Development
• Signposting
• Temporary Accommodation

In 2008, Cithrah opened a safe house for women and families. The building is purpose built, consisting of 5 self-contained apartments.

Volunteers

The foundation benefits from volunteers who offer their time in many different areas including:

• Administration
• Individual Support
• Counselling
• Creative Classes
• Maintenance
• Board of Directors

Contact

The Cithrah Foundation
Unit 6 De Courcy Centre
Carrickfergus, BT38 7AG
Tel: 02893 351 119
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.cithrah.org.uk

Serious concern as child vaccination rates slip and MMR hits new low

Children who get measles can be very poorly and some will suffer life-changing complications. The best way for parents to protect their children from measles is the MMR vaccine. Two doses of the MMR vaccine give lifelong protection and it’s never too late to catch up.

Immediate action is needed to boost MMR uptake across communities where vaccine uptake is low. Please go to NI Direct or speak to a Clinician/Nurse, who will have the knowledge to best support an understanding of the risks of measles and to learn more about the vaccines that can protect children. We need a long-term concerted effort to protect our children and to prevent large measles outbreaks.

MMR vaccination is currently delivered as part of the NHS routine child immunisation programme, with one dose offered at one year and another second dose at 3 years 4 months.

The UKHSA urged people who have missed jabs to come forward. It said: “Measles spreads very easily among those who are unvaccinated, especially in nurseries and schools. It can be a very unpleasant illness and in some children can be very serious, leading to hospitalisation and tragically even death in rare cases.”

People in certain at-risk groups, including babies and young children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immunity, are at increased risk of complications from measles. The UKHSA said more than 99% of people who have received two doses of MMR vaccine are protected against measles and rubella, although mumps protection is ‘slightly lower’, cases in vaccinated people are far less severe.