Clinics
Additional NHS Services
We offer care for some illnesses in special clinics. These can save you going to a hospital clinic.
Asthma Clinic
We advise a once-yearly review for everyone who takes medication for asthma. Aileen Garrett and Rhona McGlasson, our practice nurses, run the asthma clinic.
High Blood Pressure Treatment
We advise a six-monthly BP check for everyone taking treatment for high blood pressure. Please make an appointment with the nurse if you are due a check.
If your blood pressure is still high, or you have other problems, the doctor will see you to adjust your treatment.
Cardiovascular Clinic
Aileen Garrett, our practice nurse, runs a yearly check-up for everyone who has had a heart attack or angina.
Cervical Screening
We offer a three-yearly cervical smear to all women aged between 20 to 60. This helps to prevent the development of cancer. Please make an appointment with the nurse if you are due a smear test.
COPD Clinic (Chronic Bronchitis)
We recommend annual review of all patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Our COPD Clinic is run by Aileen Garrett and Rhona McGlasson.
Diabetic Clinic
We do a yearly check-up for everyone with diabetes treated with diet or tablets (unless you use insulin, or need hospital clinic care).
Drs David Begg and Nurse Rhona McGlasson run the clinic with the phlebotomist and chiropodist. You should be sent an appointment for this, if you don't attend a hospital clinic. We still advise a yearly eye check with an optician and we recommend Mr Cunning, the Optician in John Street (telephone 01968 674259).
We exchange information electronically with a national database (SCI DC) for our patients with diabetes. This is secure and confidential. However, if you wish your own records not to be used in this way, please tell the practice manager and we will exclude your records from this.
We exchange information electronically with a national database (SCI DC) for our patients with diabetes. This is secure and confidential, However, if you wish your own records not to be used in this way, please tell the practice manager and we will exclude your records from this.
Epilepsy Clinic
We do a yearly check-up for everyone taking medicine for epilepsy. Dr Agnes Wood organises this.
Family Planning/Contraception
The treatment room nurse can see you for contraception. When you make your appointment tell the receptionist which pill you take and you can get the prescription from the nurse too.
She can advise about starting or continuing the pill, mini-pill, injection, emergency contraception, sterilisation, vasectomy, coils and other methods. She can do your cervical smear if it is due.
If you are thinking about a pregnancy, ask about a rubella check, folic acid supplements, alcohol, stopping smoking and any concerns you have.
Incontinence Assessment And Advice Service
Nurses Dorothy Taylor and Caroline Murphy offer confidential advice and help. Just make an appointment to speak about it.
If you are housebound a district nurse can visit you to help, too.
Minor Surgery Clinic
We can remove moles and skin lumps under local anaesthetic. The waiting time is usually much less than for hospital treatment. Please see your doctor first.
Monitoring Potent Drug Treatment
We can prescribe powerful drugs for serious joint or other problems. If you take Penicillamine, Auranofin, Sulphasalazine, Methotrexate, Amiodarone or Sodium Aurothiomalate, Caroline Murphy (practice nurse) and Dr Agnes Wood will check regular blood tests for your safety.
Stroke Clinic
Aileen Garrett, our practice nurse, does a yearly check-up for everyone who has had a stroke, mini stroke or TIA.
Thyroid Clinic
Dr A Drummond Begg and Karen Keith, phlebotomist, do a yearly check and blood test for everyone on treatment for thyroid problems.
Warfarin Monitoring
Rhona McGlasson, practice nurse, and Karen Keith, phlebotomist, run the monitoring service for everyone who takes Warfarin.
Non-NHS Services, Certificates, Letters And Reports
Sickness certificates for more than five working days' absence from work are free for our patients who are employed or looking for work. They are paid for by our contract with the NHS.
Most other certificates and forms are not paid for by the NHS. We provide these as a private service in addition to our normal work. Our fees reflect the cost of employing staff, nurses, our medical insurance and running the health centre. It costs us about £1 million a year to do this plus the doctor's time taken. Our fees are similar to other professions with equivalent skills and responsibilities.
We try to keep fees as low as possible. You can help us keep charges down by:
1. Reading forms first and filling in any information which you need to complete before asking us to complete the medical section.
2. Putting your request in writing - if we know exactly what you need there is less chance of missing out something important.
3. Giving at least two working days' notice. Our first priority is giving the best care to people who are ill and we fit other work around this whenever we can.
Please check our fees (on our website or at reception) and if you aren't sure what the cost may be, please ask. The cost and time taken for a report depends on how complicated it is and we quote a range of fees to allow for this. If we need to charge more than this, we will check with you first.
Medical Examinations
We can do examinations for HGV, PSV licences, insurance reports, social work reports and sports medicals. Please tell the receptionist when you are making the appointment, so that you get extra time for a full examination.
Work-related Immunisations/Occupational Health
We do not have an occupational health service (including hepatitis B vaccination required for work). This should be provided by your employer.
Alternatively, Dr David Gillespie, Eastfield Medical Practice (tel: 01968 675576) is qualified in occupational medicine and can provide this privately.
Travel Advice/Vaccinations
We give advice on travel vaccines and malaria protection. Please ask at reception for details. There is a charge for advice and giving some vaccines.
You may need to plan at least eight weeks before your holiday for adequate cover.
Dental Care
We don't treat dental problems. If you haven't got a dentist, you can contact the walk-in centre at Lauriston Place Edinburgh on 0131 536 4966, or the Western General Hospital Dental Service on 0131 537 1338 for emergency dental care.
We have been asked by dentists not to treat dental problems because we do not do it as well as dentists and we have no training in dentistry.
If you don't have a dentist telephone 0131 537 8424 to find out how to get one.
Podiatry
The chiropodist/podiatrist in the health centre is independent of the practice and makes her own appointments.
Ask at reception for a form. Fill this in with details of your problem and your contact details. Please tell her if you have diabetes or circulation problems in your feet. She will send you an appointment.
The podiatrist can be contacted on 01968 671520.
Planning A Pregnancy?
Contact the midwives on 01968 671537 to check that you are immune to German Measles and for advice about folic acid and pre-pregnancy care.
You can get a pregnancy test without an appointment with a doctor. Just hand in a urine sample at reception.
If you have a positive pregnancy test please see your doctor to arrange care during pregnancy.
The midwives co-ordinate pregnancy care and can be contacted by telephone on 01968 671537
or, in an emergency, on 01968 672612.
Physiotherapy
Lothian Health has a physiotherapy service in the health centre. We can refer you for physiotherapy. The waiting times are often longer than we would like. For more information about the service, speak to the physiotherapist on 01968 671526.
Pre-school Children
The health visitors have regular baby clinics and immunisation clinics.
Tel: 01968 671534 to find out more.
Teenagers
Information about relationships, sexual health and contraception, drugs and family problems are available for teenagers at MYPAS (Midlothian Young People's Advisory Service).
Tel: 0131 663 1798
Email: hans_mypas@hotmail.com
Social Work
For help with benefits, housing and social care problems, home help and occupational therapy aids and home adaptations, contact Loanhead Social Work Department.
Tel: 0131 271 3900.
Drug Problems
We can help with drug problems after you have been assessed at the Community Drug Problem Service. MELD offers support for drug users and for families.
Tel: 0131 660 3566
Alcohol Problems
An alcohol problems counsellor has a clinic in Eastfield Medical Practice in Penicuik. For an appointment call ELCA on 0131 337 8188.
Citizens Advice Bureau
CAB can help with debt and money problems, and advise on housing, benefits and other problems. Tel: 01968 675259.
Interpreter Service
Would you like to use an interpreter and speak your own language? Call 0131 242 8181 to arrange a free interpreter. Or ask a friend to explain to the staff what language you speak and we can arrange an interpreter for you.
If you can bring a friend as an interpreter, you are welcome to do so.
