Early May Bank Holiday Closure

The practice will be closed on the following date:

Monday 6 May

Please ensure repeat prescription requests are submitted in a timely manner to allow for this closure.  Further guidance can be found on our prescriptions page.

Prescription ordering - Boots

We have been informed that Boots Pharmacy require prescription requests up to 10 days before the due date.  Please bear this in mind when ordering your repeat medication.

Practice access - 15-17 April 

Essential roadworks are being carried out from Monday 15 April - Wednesday 17 April along the main access road to Noble's Hospital and the Helipad.  The road will be closed as per TT usage and access to the practice will be via South Drive.  Please bear this in mind when attending the practice.

Phlebotomy Service

Please note there will be changes to the practice phlebotomy (blood taking) service from the beginning of May.  If your blood tests are requested by the hospital you will need to book an appointment at the hospital Blood Clinic and ensure you take your blood request forms with you.  Also, the routine phlebotomy service will only be available in the mornings Monday to Thursday.

Choosing the best help for you

With viruses such as flu, COVID, coughs, colds and norovirus spreading more easily during the winter months you may find the Winter Health advice here useful.

Please also see our Service Signposting page to make the right choices for you.

We would advise patients to explore the options given in the links above prior to contacting the practice for assistance.  When contacting us you may be offered an advisory telephone consultation which may be more convenient for you whilst avoiding the introduction of viral illnesses into the practice.  Many conditions can be dealt with by telephone consultation; the clinician will advise if you should attend the practice for an examination.

Practice parking

The practice will be implementing disc parking for all patients attending the surgery.  This is limited to 30 minutes.  If you are more than 30 minutes and receive a ticket please see the reception desk who will be able to provide proof of appointment.  This is being implemented as we wish to keep the patient car park just for patients.

Measles

There is currently a surge in measles cases in the UK and we would encourage parents to ensure their children are vaccinated. Please see the poster below for more information.

Measles guidance poster

Going off the island?

Please ensure you take sufficient supplies of medication with you.  Guidance for requesting medication can be found here; if you require early or additional supplies for the holiday period please explain this within your written request.  If you run out of medication whilst off the island you will need to register as a temporary patient at a nearby GP practice or attend a walk-in centre to request further supplies.

The Reciprocal Healthcare Arrangement (RHA) between the Isle of Man and the UK has been updated and extends the period of free emergency healthcare to 6 months.  Further information can be found here.

If you are travelling abroad please see our travel information here.

Are your contact details up to date?

Please ensure you notify the practice of any change of contact details.  This can be done via the link on the homepage, via e-mail to palatine@gov.im or by completing a form at the practice reception desk.

GDPR consent

If you require someone to collect documents or prescriptions from the practice on your behalf please read the information here and ensure that the practice has GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) consent. It is particularly important for carers or relatives of elderly patients to ensure this is in place.

Sick notes

Before requesting a sick note from the doctor we would ask you to read the guidance here.

Text reminders

Appointment reminder texts now include a link to follow to cancel your appointment.  When you click on the link it asks you for your date of birth and then asks you to confirm you wish to cancel.  This automatically cancels the appointment for you and will send you a text to confirm that, just in case anyone was worried about clicking on the link without knowing what it was. 

We would be most grateful if you could share this with friends and relatives who do not have internet access.

Urine samples/urinary tract infections

We would be grateful if patients could refrain from delivering urine samples to the practice unless a clinician has advised to.  We would also advise that urinary tract infections/cystitis in women aged 16-65 can be treated by local pharmacies under the Minor Ailments Scheme.  Further information can be found on our Minor Ailments Scheme page. 

Requests for non-NHS services

Please see our page here with regard to non-NHS services and requests for information, completion of forms etc which may incur a charge.  We are receiving increasing requests for medical records and would advise patients to register for Patient Access in the first instance prior to submitting an access request.

Palatine Group Practice Team

16 April 2024