FAQs

If more than one member of your family is coming to see the doctor at the same time, please make us aware and book each member for the allocated time.

Outside of regular surgery hours, medical cover is provided by SOUTHDOC. The number to call for SOUTHDOC is 1850 335 999.

Your call will be answered by a member of staff from the Southdoc base and you will be asked to give details of the patient and a contact phone number. If you have a medical card you will be asked for the number and expiry date.

This information will then be passed to a Triage Nurse who will ring you back as soon as is possible. The Nurse will gather all the relevant medical information and make an assessment which will lead to one of the following:

The next available appointment will be offered for the patient to attend a doctor at the Southdoc centre nearest to you.

For patients who are seriously ill or suffer from lack of mobility, a house call will be offered.

If the details given suggest a minor medical problem, the Nurse will give advice to the patient/guardian.

The Southdoc office will forward details of your phone call and subsequent consultation to the doctor whom the patient has nominated at the earliest opportunity. In most cases this information will be faxed to your GP early the following morning.

Payments should be made at the reception desk once the consultation is finished. If you are a medical card holder it is essential that you bring a valid medical card with you as otherwise you will be charged for the service provided. Southdoc do not accept payment by Laser or Credit Card but payment can be made by either cash or cheque.

The Southside base for Southdoc is located just off the Kinsale Road Roundabout, (take the signposted exit for Turners Cross) in the South Ring Retail Park where Smyths Toys are located. The premises can be found at the rear of the retail park.

The Blackpool Premise Coming from Cork City:

Turn right into blackpool shopping centre but take the first left turn drive all the way around. You pass atlantic homecare/reids/costa coffee shop all on your right in the square. Carry on until you get to the old Sunbeam factory. Treatment centre on corner.

If you need to speak to your GP, the receptionist on duty will take your message and contact details and your call will be returned as quickly as possible. We cannot specify a time for the doctor to ring you as this depends on the doctor’s daily workload – when very busy, it may take 24 – 48 hours before a routine (non-urgent) call is returned.

If the advice you require is of an urgent nature, please highlight this to the receptionist in order that you can speak to the doctor at the earliest opportunity.

If you have tests carried out in the surgery or if you are referred to hospital for a test, it is ESSENTIAL that you phone your doctor for the results within 7 – 10 days of the procedure taking place.

Most call-backs will be made either in the lunchtime period or directly after surgery is finished in the late afternoon/evening.

It is important for you to phone us BEFORE your prescription runs out. We would ask you to give a minimum of 48 hours notice when requesting a repeat prescription.

Please note that in some instances your doctor may wish to see you before issuing a new prescription. This is in order to have up-to-date information on your physical well-being. You must be reviewed at least every 6 months whilst on long term drugs for legal reasons.

If you have a medical card and get a hospital prescription, you are entitled to one week’s supply of medication from your pharmacy on production of the hospital script, once it is brought to the pharmacy on the day the hospital issue the prescription.

The following steps should be taken once you have the prescription:

• Call to the surgery with the prescription before attending the pharmacy.
• The reception staff will then take a photocopy of the prescription.
• You will be given the original prescription back which you can give to the pharmacist.
• Your doctor will write up the prescription from the photocopy and you may collect the prescription from reception 48 hours later. The prescription should then be taken to your pharmacy to collect the remainder of the medication owed to you.

It is practice policy for all accounts to be settled at the time of consultation before leaving the surgery. To facilitate patients we have a Visa/Laser machine and also accept payment by cash and cheque.

Receipts are automatically issued at the time of payment for each visit – PLEASE RETAIN YOUR RECEIPTS – you will need these when claiming back under the MED 1 or any private insurance you may have.

There are 2 types of medical card in operation under the GMS Scheme

1. Full Medical Card
2. Doctor Visit Card or DV Card

Not all services are covered under the schemes – common services not covered include:

• Driving Licence Medical and Driving Licence Eye Test.
• Travel Vaccines.

Other services NOT covered include: Medical examinations or reports for legal purposes; Examinations relating to insurance policies; Pre-Employment examinations; School entry examinations; Examinations in connection with fitness to take part in sports; Some vaccinations; Some family planning services; Pregnancy tests.

Please enquire at reception for further details.