TTM Healthcare Solutions and the Northern Trust Welcomes You
Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Working and Living in the Region. TTM Healthcare Solutions welcomes you to the NHS Northern Health and Social Care Trust in Northern Ireland - and to exciting times ahead.
We’d like to make sure you have all the support you need to make settling into your new home as easy, convenient and enjoyable as possible. To help, we’ve put together some information, advice and useful links on life in the Northern Region of Northern Ireland - and which you’ll find valuable as a newcomer. From public transport to healthcare and everything in between – it will help you manage your early days here with ease.
Remember – we’re just a click away. If we can help you with any other queries or more specific information, please email internationalteam@ttmhealthcare.com.
About the Northern Trust
One of 5 NHS Trusts in Northern Ireland, The Northern Trust provides a comprehensive range of health and social care services to a population of almost 470,000 people. Serving an area of 1,733 square miles, it is the largest geographical trust in Northern Ireland. The Trust also provides services to Rathlin, the only inhabited island off the coast of Northern Ireland.
The Northern Trust employs around 12,000 staff across a full range of medical, health and social care disciplines. The Trust delivers acute services through two hospital sites and a mental health hospital. It also provides community-based health and social care from four localities and 300 facilities which include local community hospitals, day centres, health centres and residential homes as well as provision of care in the home. The main sites within the Region are:
• Antrim Area Hospital
• Causeway Hospital
• Dalriada Hospital
• Holywell Hospital
• Mid Ulster Hospital
• Moyle Hospital
• Robinson Hospital
• Whiteabbey Hospital
Currency and How to Open a Bank Account
The local currency in Northern Ireland is pound sterling (£/GBP). Local shops will not accept Euro. Northern Ireland is the cheapest part of the UK to live in with the lowest cost of housing. To give you an example of how much a pound will buy you, a cup of coffee will cost you approximately £2.50 and a meal in an inexpensive restaurant will range from £10 – £15 per person. You can expect a typical weekly grocery shop for 1 person to cost around £50 - £60 per week. Find out more on the cost of living in Northern Ireland.
To ensure you are paid your salary efficiently you will need to open a UK bank account. You will need to arrange an appointment at a local bank to activate your account as soon as possible and verify your identity. Be sure to take the following with you:
•Passport as proof of ID
• A letter from NHS Northern Health and Social Care Trust confirming your employment and initial address.
The main banks in Northern Ireland include Bank of Ireland, Danske Bank, AIB, Halifax and Santander amongst others. Cash machines are available throughout the Region, but not all are free to use – some charge fees. For your own security, be sure to hide your pin number when keying this into the cash point machine.
How To Get Medical Care
You will need to register with a doctor – known as a GP – as soon as possible, especially if you are taking medication that needs a prescription. Your GP will be able to treat most illnesses but may refer you to a hospital if you require tests or if your medical condition is more serious. You will not need to pay to see a doctor as this is covered by the National Insurance contributions you make which will be deducted from your salary. You will need to visit the nearest GP and ask to join as a patient. Be sure to have these documents with you:
• Your passport/VISA
• Your BRP Card
• Your Tenancy Agreement (the signed copy of your tenancy agreement for Trust accommodation or private rental accommodation)
• A Bank Statement OR utility bill (letter from your copy showing your current address) OR a letter from Belfast Trust confirming your employment and address.
As soon as you are registered, you’ll receive a medical card with a Health and Social Care Number (HCN) – which you will need to show when you visit any medical facility. Most GP practices are open Monday – Friday and hours will vary between 08:30 am and 5:30pm. GP Practices in Antrim are:
Castle Medical Practice
•Dr Field, Dr Gribbon, Dr Lewis, Manager: Paula Scullion
• Phone: 028 94413910
Oriel Surgery
•Dr Hunter, Dr Thompson, Dr Little
• Phone: 028 94464936
The Health Centre
•Dr Turk, Dr McKenna, Manager: Mary Cassidy
• Phone: 028 94413940
The Health Centre
•Dr Kidd, Dr Cosgrove
• Phone: 028 94413950
The Health Centre
•Dr Cobain, Dr Patten, Dr McCraken, Dr Munn
• Phone: 082 94413920
If you become unwell in the evenings or over a weekend you should first contact the Dalriada Urgent Care which provides out of hours GP services to the Northern sector of the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB). The service operates from 4 main Primary Care Centres (PCC’s) - Ballymena, Whiteabbey, Coleraine and Moneymore. The service is delivered 6.00pm to 7.30am Monday to Friday, weekends and Public Holidays. You can contact Dalriada on: 028 25663500. Please be aware: Dalriada Urgent Care is available to provide services when your surgery is closed – it does not replace normal GP services.
If you are involved in an accident or become ill and need emergency medical assistance, please visit your nearest emergency department or dial 999 for an ambulance.
How to Register with a Dentist
As well as a GP, you should also register with a dental practitioner or dentist. You can choose from:
• An HSC Dentist – you and your family will be treated for a fee set by the Department of Health, which subsidises this treatment. Treatments available from your Health Service dentist include:
• A Private Dentist - you and your family will be treated for a fee which is NOT regulated by the Department of Health and is not subsidised. A private dentist may also provide specialist treatments and cosmetic dentistry that is not available under the Health Service.
Some dentists in your area are:
• Castleway Dental Practice – NHS Dentist | Phone: 0289 4487864
• McClintock W A K & Associates – NHS Dentist | Phone: 0289 4463234
• Joan Mangan Dental Surgery – NHS Dentist | Phone: 0289 4462335
• Clear Dental Surgery – NHS Dentist | Phone: 028 94485949
• Tillman S M & Cullen RA – NHS Dentist | Phone: 028 94465111
To find out details of an HSC Dentist with whom you can register, visit: www.hscbusiness.hscni.net/services/2070
How to Rent Property in the Area
As a new member of the NTRUST team you will be staying in Trust accommodation for 6 weeks. This will give you time to look for a rental property. As you will need to move out of your Trust accommodation at the end of the 6-week period, you should start looking for rental property during your first week in the country. Property prices in Northern Ireland are well below those in other areas of the UK and in the Republic of Ireland. In the Northern Region of Northern Ireland you can rent a 3-bedroom house from approximately £450 to £550 a month. To look for rental property in your area contact one of the local estate agents below:
Country Estates
• Phone: 028 94466777
• Website: www.country-estates.com
Evans & Little
• Phone: 028 94467121
• Website: www.evanslittleestateagents.com
East Antrim Property Sales
• Phone: 028 94464902
• Website: www.antrimproperty.co.uk
Harry Clarke & Co
• Phone: 028 94466766
• Website: www.harryclarkeantrim.co.uk
You can also visit www.propertypal.com and www.propertynews.com. You should also look out for adverts in shop windows or on notice boards and ‘to let’ boards outside properties. Ask friends and colleagues too – they may well know of accommodation available.
Important to Know!
• Be clear on the kind of place and space you need - the size, type and location.
• Think about your budget and what you can afford.
• Be sure to choose a place that is convenient with regards to getting to work, schools, shops and public transport. Think about how close you are to friends, family, medical care, availability of secure parking and your social life.
• All private landlords must register immediately prior to the letting of a new tenancy.
• Landlords normally ask for a deposit equivalent to 1-2 months’ rent up-front to secure a property. PLEASE CONSIDER THIS WHEN APPLYING FOR A SALARY ADVANCE
• You will also have to pay 1 month’s rent in advance.
• You may be required to provide references or name a guarantor. A guarantor can be a family member or friend who will offer a commitment to pay the landlord your rent if you are unable to do so. A guarantor cannot be your employer or a work colleague unless they are a friend or a family member and acting on your behalf in that way. If you do not know anyone who can act as a guarantor, the letting agency will accept your application if you can provide a double security deposit + 1 month’s rent in advance (equal usually to 3 months’ rent in advance).
You will need to give your Letting Agent the following details:
• Job title: staff nurse
• Annual Salary: £25,655
• Employer: Northern Health & Social Care Trust (Name of hospital)
• Permanent contract
Tell the letting agent that you will be living in the country for the same amount of time given on your CoS and VISA. This will give the landlord peace of mind that you will be staying in the property for the term of the lease.
How To Take Public Transport
Getting around in Northern Ireland is so easy! The country has an excellent bus and rail service operated by Translink. Running countrywide, the service includes Ulsterbus, Goldline (connecting NI's major destinations and Dublin), Belfast's Metro Bus and Glider services and NI Railways. A bus referred to as “the town service bus” leaves Antrim Area Hospital every 30 minutes to Antrim Town and train station. A bus also leaves Antrim Bus Station every 30 minutes to go to Belfast. You can also travel by train to Belfast, which leaves Antrim Train Station every 14 minutes past the hour.
The cost of any journey will be determined by the length of the journey. When using bus or train, if you are planning a return journey it is cheaper to buy a return ticket at the start of your journey. To get timetable details, travel costs and general information about using public transport, visit www.translink.co.uk or www.inyourpocket.com/belfast/getting-around/Northern-Ireland-Public-Transport.
How to Get a Local Taxi
Taxis are also an economical option for short journeys. Taxis charge meter-reading fares. If a taxi doesn’t have a meter, be sure to ask the fare to your destination before setting off. Taxi ranks are also available within the city or at some points of entry and are London-type black cabs. Some taxi companies in your area are:
•A1 Taxis - 028 94466699
• Regency - Taxis 028 94466666
• ACE Cabs - 028 94488700
• Bridge Street Taxis - 028 94460666
• Value Cabs - 028 90809080
How to Find Children’s Day Care
Child minding is the largest form of registered day care for children aged 0 – 12 years. Registered child minders are self-employed day care providers who work in their own home to provide care and learning opportunities for other people’s children within a family setting. Child minders by law must be registered with the local Health and Social Care Trust.
To get help with choosing a child minder you should contact The Child Minding Association (NICMA) – an organisation that supports child minders, parents and children. They will give you details of child-minding services that have vacancies.
The Child Minding Association (NICMA)
•16 – 18 Mill Street, Newtownards, Co. Down, BT23 4LU
• Tel: 028 91811015
• Email: info@nicma.org
• Website: www.nicma.org
You can also place your child at a day nursery, playgroup or crèche. Day nurseries are usually privately run and provide day care for children aged between 6 weeks and 5 years old. Many also run after school clubs for primary school-going children aged 4 to 11 years. To find out more visit www.nidirect.gov.uk/information-and-services/childcare/types-childcare
How to Enrol Children for School
Northern Ireland offers an excellent education system and schooling is usually FREE of charge. It is compulsory for all children in Northern Ireland aged between 4 and 16 years old to attend school. All Northern Ireland schools follow the Northern Ireland Curriculum - based on the National Curriculum used in England and Wales. Children work towards General Certificates of Secondary Education (GCSE’s) by age 16. To make sure you secure a place for your youngsters, you should start planning as soon as possible.
Pre-School
Pre-school education is available for children aged 3 – 4. Some of this is free and some will be at a charge. Pre-school education is normally provided in nursery schools, but depending on your child’s birthday, some is provided in primary schools as a ‘reception class’.
Primary School
All children who are 4 years old on or before the 2nd July must begin their primary education from the beginning of the school year following their 4th birthday. Primary School Education is divided into three key stages:
• Foundation stage: year 1 and 2
• Key stage 1: years 3 and 4
• Key stage 2: years 5, 6 and 7
Primary Schools in Antrim:
•Antrim Primary School, 31 Station Road, Antrim, BT41 4AB | Phone: 028 94428226 | Email: info@antrimps.antrim.ni.sch.uk
• St.Comgall's Catholic Primary School, 1 Ballymena Road Antrim, BT41 4JG | Phone: 028 94428837 | Website: www.stcomgallsps.co.uk
• Rathenraw Integrated Primary School, Stiles Way Rathenraw, Antrim Bt41 2TA | Phone: 028 94463979
Post-Primary Education
Children normally progress to post-primary education at age 11. As a parent, you have the right to say which post-primary school you would like your child to attend. However, as each school has a maximum number of places, it is not always possible for each child to be placed in the school of choice. Post-primary education starts in year 8 and covers Key stage 3 and 4 (11 – 16 years). Post-Primary Schools in Antrim:
• Parkhall Integrated Junior School | Steeple Road, Antrim, Co. Antrim, BT411AF | Phone: 028 94462963 | Email: info@parkhallintegratedcollege.antrim.ni.sch.uk
• Parkhall Integrated Senior School | Birch Hill Road, Antrim, Co. Antrim, BT412QH | Phone: 028 94464034 | Email:info@parkhallintegratedcollege.antrim.ni.sch.uk
• Antrim Grammar |10 Steeple Road, Antrim, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, BT41 1AF | Phone: 028 94464091 Email: info@antrimgrammar.antrim.ni.sch.uk
University and College
After school, youngsters can choose to go to university or college – which are normally fee-paying. You can get information for all levels of Pre-school, Primary and Secondary Education – together with application forms – on the Education Authority website www.eani.org.uk. You can also contact the Education for the Northern Region at:
•182 Galgorm Road, Ballymena, BT42 1HN
• Phone: 028 25653333
• Website: www.neelb.org.uk
Where to Shop for Food
There is a great choice of food in Northern Ireland and no shortage of places to shop. It is usually cheaper to shop in the larger supermarkets. Some local places you might like to try out are:
• Asda: www.asda.com – This is a large multinational store which sells food, clothing electrical goods etc, and is located within the Junction One Complex. You can enjoy food and household items to be delivered direct to your door. Just register for a free account.
• Tesco Extra Store: www.tesco.com - This is a large multinational supermarket which sells everything you could want from food to clothing and electrical goods.
There are also many Halal restaurants and markets in the area, and you can find out more details at: www.zabihah.com/reg/rJosGZGVqQ
Where to Find Places of Worship
As a multi-cultural area, you will find a convenient spiritual home or place of worship in your area:
If you are Roman Catholic
St Comgall’s Catholic Church, Castle Street, Antrim, BT41 4HP | Sunday Service:6.30pm (Vigil Saturday), 9.00am, 12 noon. Holydays: 7.00pm (Vigil) & 10.00am. Monday to Friday 10.00am.
If you are Protestant
High Street Presbyterian Church, 22 Steeple Road Antrim | Sunday Service 11.00am and evening 7.00pm (1st of Month) | Website: www.highstchurch.org/news.php
All Saints Church of Ireland, 22 Church Street, Antrim | Sunday Service 8.30am and 11.30 am
If you are Methodist
Methodist Church Antrim, Greystone Road Antrim | Sunday Service 11am.
If you are Baptist
Antrim Baptist Church, 3 Greystone Link, Antrim BT41 1QW | Sunday Service 11.30am main hall and 6.30 pm main hall | Website: www.antrimbaptistchurch.org
If you are Muslim
Coleraine Mosque, No1 Gateside Business Park, Gateside Rd, BT52 2RE | Belfast Islamic Centre, 38 Wellington Park, Belfast, BT9 6DN | Tel: 02890664465 | www.belfastislamiccentre.org.uk
If you are Hindu
ISKCOM Belfast Krishna Temple, 2a Brooklands Grange, Dunmurry, BT17 0SA | www.iskconbelfast.co.uk
If you are Buddhist
Potala Kadampa Buddhist Centre, 265 Ormeau Road, Belfast, BT7 3GG | Tel: 07597 773096 | www.meditateni.org
If you are Sikh
Guru Nanak Gurdwara Belfast, 162 Duncairn Gardens, Belfast, BT15 2GN | Tel: 07404 444464 | www.worldgurudwaras.com/gurudwaras/gurdwara-guru-nanak-devi-ji-belfast
The Trust also has Hospital Chaplains who are available to nursing staff in the hospital.
The NHSCT has a number of hospital sites where international nurses may be allocated to including: Antrim, Causeway, Whiteabbey or Robinson Hospital. You will receive a resource file on arrival from your specific Hospital with more information on local GP's, Dentists, Schools etc.
More Information on Life in Northern Ireland
For more info on things like the weather, public holidays, mobile phones, local laws and how to discover the best of Northern Ireland CLICK HERE.
