Flu and COVID-19 vaccinations from October 2025

We are currently preparing our invitations to those who are eligible for vaccination.  All eligible patients will receive a letter or text message to invite them for vaccination.

The Covid vaccination programme has been changed this year and not all individuals are eligible for this vaccine.  Further information is outlined below.

Getting your vaccinations every year, if you’re eligible, tops up your protection and reduces your risk of getting severe symptoms.

Vaccination administered by your GP Practice

Who should have the flu vaccine:

The flu vaccine is recommended for people at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu.

It’s offered on the NHS every year in autumn or early winter.

You can get the free NHS flu vaccine if you:

• are aged 65 or over (including those who will be 65 by 31 March 2026)
• have certain long-term health conditions
• are pregnant
• are the main carer for an older or disabled person, or receive a carer’s allowance
• live with someone who has a weakened immune system

Children’s flu vaccine

The children’s flu vaccine is recommended for:

• children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2025 (born between 1 September 2021 and 31 August 2023) –
• children aged 6 months to 17 years with certain long-term health conditions

Who should have the COVID-19 vaccine

You can get the winter COVID-19 vaccine if you:

• are aged 75 or over (including those who will be 75 by 31 January 2026)
• are aged 6 months to 74 years and have a weakened immune system because of a health condition or treatment

Further information in respect of eligibility and vaccination is available at:

Covid : www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/COVID-19-vaccine

Influenza: www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/flu-vaccine

Industrial Action by GP's

Due to industrial action the doctors will be limiting the number of routine consultations on a daily basis.  The number of telephone calls will be based on Safe Working guidance issued by the European Union of General Practitioners & the British Medical Association.   The industrial action is to address the funding crisis in General Practice within Northern Ireland.    

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

Thank you from the Partners at Old School Surgery

Practice Closure

The practice will be closed on:

Thursday 25 December 2025 & Friday 26 December 2025 - Medical Emergencies please ring Dalriada Urgent Care on 02825663500.

The surgery reopens on Tuesday 29 December 2025 as normal.

Please note requests on online prescriptions cannot be processed while the surgery is closed. 

Important Information regarding Clinical System – July 2025

Unfortunately the providers of our current clinical system have withdrawn from the market.  As a result all GP Practices who currently use Vision (Cegedim) throughout Northern Ireland will be moving to a new EMIS system.  EMIS is currently used by a large number of Practices in Northern Ireland.

We will be migrating to the new system towards in November of this year.  

This will be a huge undertaking for the practice and we will be supported through the transition period by the, Business Services Organisation, EMIS & Department of Health.

There will be no adverse effects from a patient perspective following the move.  However, there are a few areas we need to suspend or close existing systems, for example:

• New requests for on-line services has  be suspended.
• Online Repeat Medication requests via Patient Services will be closed (the new operating system is not compatible with our existing service).
• Registrations will be suspended 8 weeks prior to the migration process.

Once we have moved to the EMIS online services, a new registration for online services will be required.   We will continue to update you once more information becomes available.

Thank you

Building Work at Old School Surgery - update

Old School Surgery recently received approval from the Strategic Planning and Performance Group (SPPG) to commence building and extension to the existing premises.

The purpose of this building is to enhance the services available at the practice once funding becomes available from the Department of Health.  These services may include physiotherapy, Social Worker and Mental Health Worker with administrative support.

The building work is now completed.  However, services cannot be introduced until the funding becomes available to the East Antrim Federation.  Recruitment has commenced but it may be 2026 before the services are operational.

Many thanks

The Partners at Old School Surgery

Vaccination Update

Information in respect of Shingles and MMR are located in Vaccination update on the right hand side.

CHANGE TO PRACTICE BOUNDARY

From 1/4/22 the Practice Boundary changed to encompass the following area:

Station Road Greenisland, left along Shore Road, Marine Highway Carrickfergus, turn left at Taylors Avenue connecting to Prince Andrew Way to North Road, left onto Middle Road, right to Lower Woodburn Road, left Lisglass Road to Irish Hill Road, left on Carntall Road, left at Doagh Road, right at Doagh Road, left to Station Road in Whiteabbey, left onto Shore Road returning to Greenisland

To view a mapped area please click on the link below:

Map of Area

Patients who currently reside outside the Practice Area will remain on the Practice list while they remain at their current address.  Should they move to another address outside the practice area they will be advised to register with a GP in their locality and removed from the practice list.

Patients registered outside the Practice Area who extend their family i.e. new birth, adoption or fostering may register with the Practice.  

Many thanks

Practice Update - September 2021

Please click on the link below for the latest update from the Surgery.   This information includes and audit on patient contacts and workload provided by the practice for a 12 month period as well as information on services available at the practice.

Practice Information Update - September 2021

Practice Telephone System - From: Friday 23 April 2021

We have now moved to a new telephone system.  When you contact the surgery you will be provided with a number of options,

If you have a critical emergency you should dial 999 and not wait to be connected to a member of staff.

Press 1 - Repeat Prescriptions - you will be connected with a member of the administration team between the hours of 11.00am to 12.30pm & 2.30pm to 4.00pm.  Outside these times until 5.30pm you can leave your name, date of birth, address and name and strength of medication you require. 

Press 2 - to book a telephone consultation with the GP.  Please note these consultations are limited & once they have been allocated each day you will be asked to ring the following day.  The administration staff will ask  questions on behalf of the doctor to ensure you are directed to the appropriate healthcare professional i.e. queries regarding medication will be directed to one of our Practice Based Pharmacists.

Press 3 - General Enquires.

Please note:  if you leave a message on our repeat prescription line for issues not related to a medication order your request will not be processed.

We would like to thank everyone for your patience and kindness shown to our staff.  Unfortunately, a minority feel it is appropriate to verbally abuse our staff and this cannot be tolerated.  Such behaviour may result in your removal from the practice list.