Falls community council is a local community organisation that offers a variety of services. The…read moremost useful things they do are when they organise things like IT training courses. They also focus quite a lot on utilising resources for young people and teenagers, hosting alcohol and drugs awareness programmes. They also have a sound recording suite which is soundproofed and well equipped. They run a lot of programmes for young people here, introducing young people to music and technology, and training them on the latest equipment. Schools regularly arrange days for pupils to come down here and, for some of them, it actually gives them a bit of direction and, in some cases, a career path. Of course, the centre isn't exclusively for young people, and it arranges training courses for the unemployed, as well as offering advice and guidance on what services and community organisations are available in the Belfast area.

There are lots and lots of charity shops in Bangor, some people think that is a bad thing but I…read morethink it is a really good thing. NI Hospice has been there for quite a while and it really does the job. You can get the usual selection of second hand clothes and books and the like here. The staff are all volunteers and are always friendly and helpful. You will be able to pick up a bargain in this wee shop without too much of a wee root around. I have got a couple of jackets in here in the past and the quality has always been ok and I walked out thinking that I had a real bargain.

Recent proposals have seen A&E services at Whiteabbey Hospital being replaced with a minor injuries…read moreunit. A&E cases should now attend their most local hospital (for many this is Antrim, Royal or Mater) This change came about after long talks and consultations about how effective the A&E services where at this location, they have changed in a hope to modernise the services the hospital provides. At Whiteabbey there is now a range of services available including; Day Surgery Procedure Unit , Dietetics, Endoscopy Suite, Minor Injuries Unit, Occupational therapy, Outpatients, Psychiatric Day Hospital, Physiotherapy, Psychological therapies, Radiology and diagnostics department, Rehabilitation and Speech and language therapy services. These services are located in a number of buildings; the main hospital building and other smaller buildings such as The New Ward Block, Norah Bain House and Ward 8. Whiteabbey Hospital is open from 9.00am - 5.00pm, Monday-Friday, excluding bank holidays. There is a restaurant on the grounds called the Grapevine which serves a range of hot and cold food and snacks. It is open for breakfast from 8.30am -10.30am and for lunch from 12noon - 1.30pm. I used to work at the hospital and I have to note the food on offer here is actually really nice. The Hospital is about seven miles from Belfast. It's located on the Doagh Road in Newtownabbey and is accessible from the M2 motorway / Station Rd / Doagh Road and O'Neill Road.

I hadn't been in this hospital in years, since they closed down the A&E department, however in 2014…read moreI attended a number of times to see them midwife, and have various scans and treatments when I was pregnant. I was quite happy about this is this hospital isn't that far from me and it meant I wouldn't have to trek up and down to Belfast (or Antrim!) Most of the treatment I received here was good and the nurses friendly and informative, but there was a bit of a disaster with one of the injections I needed which saw me have to go back three times before I managed to get it, and for this I take off a star. I received a letter telling me when to go, and duly attended. The nurse looked at me blankly and asked why I was there. Luckily I had my letter with me to show her. She just said 'oh this is a mistake' and proceeded to tell me that they didn't know I was coming and didn't have the plasma to inject. I was a bit annoyed to have wasted the time off work, but these things happen. I was given a new time to come. Upon arrival at this appointment, I was told that they had the plasma now, however it was in a locked fridge and the person with the key wasn't there!

I feel it is my civic duty to donate blood ever since a close family friend had to receive several…read morepints after a bad accident a good few years ago. My girlfriend is also a rare blood type (I don't remember the name, but it means she is a universal donor!) so she gets special letters to donate her blood so we always try and do it as much as we can! Giving blood is such an easy and efficient process, I just don't understand why more people don't do it more often! After filling your initial questionnaire for a few minutes you get a small sample taken from your finger to ensure your iron levels are high enough to let you do it, and then the staff will guide you to the donation area and start taking your pint! It isn't sore in the slightest, and I can say that as a 21 year old who has made 13 donations in the last few years! The staff are always polite and attentive, and will make you feel at ease if you are that kind of person! It only takes about 15 minutes and then you are done, then after waiting for a while with some juice and biscuits you are able to go off on your business again! I can't recommend what these people do enough!

My girlfriend attended this regularly and I was forced to come along once to provide blood and…read moremoral support! Needless to say, after what seemed like a only a few minutes, I had the little finger prick thing done and I was being propped up and hooked into a machine. Once the needle goes in, you're sorted and you have a friendly member of staff to talk to. I have had to force conversation with customers before and it can be excruciatingly painful at times. But these people are more than happy to talk about the music on the radio, politics, your course, what biscuits you like, what you are getting for Christmas... Anything and what's more is that they are all very nice. The place is so clean (as you would expect) but also is very friendly which some hospitals and health centres aren't. If you are at all afraid of donating blood, come here and give it a try. There is no pain what so ever, all of the staff are very friendly and you get some tea and biscuits after it! Don't knock it until you try it. Very good.

Glengormley Community Service Centre is the local health service clinic for Glengormley and it's…read moresurrounding areas. It houses various sectors of the Trust including the family planning clinic, children's unit, podiatry, mental health team, health visitors and so on. The centre has been here for a number of years and is a vital part of the community. I know a few people who work for the Northern Trust in this centre and they have not one bad thing to say about it. It's a great place to work, every one is made to feel welcome and you will often see a friendly, smiling face around the (some what dilapadated) buildings. From personal experience I've never had any trouble or mishaps here. The receptions are always cheerful and helpful, they are professional secretaries that don't misplace your appointment. There's a lovely community feel around this area that's partially held together by the local services around here.

Hya I had breast surgery this week under Mr Simpsons excellent team! I received the best care…read morepossible from my arrival time to being discharged. I couldn't believe their kindness dedication and great teamwork delivering first class care. Nothing was too much trouble for the doctors, nurses , healthcares, and the housekeepers. The doctors and nurses helped me feel well cared for and reasured as I was very anxious before my operation. I have had breast care in other hospitals in England and in comparison your hospitals care and staff dedication is excellent all round Thank you! I won't ever forget my positive experience under your great team, Rowena Dunham-Vance

Thankfully, hospitals are (touch wood!) somewhere that I tend not to go near, and hopefully never…read morewill have, although most of us will have at least one trip to A&E in our lifetimes. Just over a year ago I received a pretty bad cut to the back of my left foot (due to wearing entirely unsuitable shoes!) so I duly rubbed on some Savlon, stuck on a plaster, and merrily went on my way. Unfortunately by the next day, it had swollen up pretty badly, and I could not put and pressure on it at all, and was in a considerable amount of pain, so unfortunately it seemed like a trip to the dreaded A&E was on the cards. Whiteabbey is my most convenient, but they no longer offer Accident and Emergency, so I managed to talk my mother into kindly taking me to Antrim. I brought a magazine with me, because my previous experiences of A&E meant long boring waits.. but I was amazed to be seen only 10 minutes after arrival, and within half an hour, I was patched up, armed with a course of anti-biotics and on my way home. Very impressed!

The mobile breast screening unit is situated in the grounds of Ards hospital .This is for the…read morepurpose of all women over the age of 50 to be invited to attend the unit for breast screening every three years. This screening is called a mammogram which is a special X-ray which can spot cancers that are too small to see or feel. The whole procedure involves an opportunity to ask any relevant questions and then to have each breast X-rayed. The whole procedure takes less than half an hour and the mammogram itself will only take a few minutes. The X-rays will be reviewed by a specialist and the results will be sent to your home and your doctor in about two weeks. So ladies if you haven't availed yourself of this service don't be afraid, that half an hour could literally save your life.

Ards Hospital will always go down in history, there will come a time when tourists will flock there…read moreto honour the birthplace of a literary great. That is because Ards hospital is responsible for delivering wee baby me around 23 years ago. Unfortunately they no longer offer midwifery, some say they reached the pinnacle around 23 years ago but others argue that government budget cuts encouraged the closure of this centre. I believe the former. Ards Hospital really is a shadow of its former self, but it still plays an important role in the community. They offer a walk in service Monday to Friday and if I was to have a minor injury I would bypass Hospitals that are closer to my home in order to go to Ards hospital. Day care, Outpatients facilities and minor operations are also preformed at Ards Hospital. Ards Hospital has always been extremely sympathetic to its patients needs. It has the feeling of a Family GP practice rather than a city hospital. The building itself has the same personality as the staff, wise and open with a whole lot of knowledge to share. It was once a Victorian workhouse but there is no need to worry about being served gruel at Ards today as they offer full catering department equipped with an affordable café for patients and visitors. All in all I would commend this hospital for its character and approach to care.

A superb GP surgery which is situated on lower Ormeau Road. The practice area covers a 10 mile…read moreradius surrounding the clinic and caters for postcode areas BT6, BT7 and BT8. A few years ago when I lived nearby I attended Ormeau Health Centre as my local GP Surgery. As with all Surgeries these days, getting an appointment unfortunately proved tricky, with waits of up to a few days or even weeks on occasion. Thankfully though, they did offer a convenient telephone line whereby you could ring and speak to a Doctor or order prescriptions. You can also book appointments online and order repeat prescriptions 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week via their website. Plus Ormeau Health Centre have a travel clinic if you need to get jabs for your holidays. I always found the Receptionists, Nurses and Doctors friendly, helpful and professional. I would give this clinic a full 5 star rating if it weren't for the long waiting times before obtaining an appointment. Plus only allowing 10 minutes per patient for a Doctors appointment feels very rushed. However I think this is an issue with the Health Service overall (or our politicians and government) rather than this particular clinic, which I always found excellent.

Great g.p. especially with kids! Chemist is also close by with car parking available. Waiting times…read moreare not as long in comparison to other places I have been. The chemist would usually have a display table on show which changes every month. For example today was smoking awareness and the benefits of quiting the help and information that is available to anyone wanting to quit and example nicotine packs to help tou choose the right approach.