First Steps to Using Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland

GET A MEDICAL CARD

• You will need a Medical Card to register with a family doctor or a dentist. You do not have to pay for a Medical Card
  
  
• To get a Medical card you must fill out form HS22X

If you need any help to fill in this form or you need an interpreter you can contact any of the ethnic minority community groups listed below or the Multi-Cultural Resource Centre for further assistance.

REGISTER WITH A DOCTOR

• In addition to hospital doctors there is the family doctor known as a “G.P.”  
  
  
• You must register to use a G.P.
  
  
• You will need to find a G.P. who will take you as a patient
  
  
• The G.P. service is free to all residents
  
  
• You can choose a female G.P. if you wish
  
  
• A list of G.P.s can be obtained from:
  
  
• Central Services Agency (CSA)
  
  
• Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) 
    
• Health and Social Services Council (HSCC)
  

To choose your dentist you can obtain lists of dentists from the:

• CSA, CAB, HSCC, Yellow Pages.
  
  
• You should check that the dentist you contact will treat you on the public health service (NHS). You may not have to pay for some dental services.
  
  

Your Doctor (G.P.) is the person who decides which medicine you need. He or she will give you a form (called a prescription) giving you permission to buy the medicine in a pharmacy. Without it your chemist cannot give you medicines, except for some very simple medicines (such as painkillers) which can also be obtained in supermarkets and other stores.

Medicines dispensed with a prescription all cost the same (currently around £6.50). However you do not have to pay if:

• You are under 16
  
  
• You are under 19 and in full time education
  
  
• You or your partner are getting certain benefits
  
  
• You are pregnant or have given birth in the last 12 months
  
  

If you need to have your eyes tested, contact a registered optician.

A list of opticians can be obtained from:

• CSA, CAB, HSCC, Yellow Pages.
  

• All G.P.s have an emergency number if you need to see them out of their normal hours. You should ask in your G.Ps surgery/health centre for this number
  
  
• All G.P.s will provide medical treatment in an emergency, even if you are not registered with them
  
  
• In a serious accident or emergency medical treatment can be received by going to the Accident and Emergency Department of any hospital. All Accident and Emergency services are free to everybody.
  
  

• If you need help planning your family contact a Family Planning Clinic in your area (details of which can be obtained from Family Planning Association Contraceptive Education Service's helpline 02890 325488) or your G.P.
  
  
• Family planning services are free and strictly confidential
  
  

You can make a complaint if:

• You are dissatisfied with the service provided
  
  
• A service has not been provided when you feel it should have been
  

How to complain:

• Tell the person directly dealing with you, this may mean the problem can be sorted out straight away
  
  
• If you can not agree, or find it hard to approach the person, ask to speak to their manager
  
  
• If you still can not agree, or find it hard to approach the manager, contact the organisation's Complaints Officer. (See local information for details)

Eastern:   028 9032 1230                                            
Northern:  028 2565 5777
Southern: 028 3834 9900                                            
Western:  028 8225 2555