Can another health professional help?
Sometimes a GP may not be the most appropriate healthcare professional to deal with your ailment. Other professionals such as pharmacists, opticians and dentists may be better placed to help.
Appointments
To request an appointment :
- phone us during opening hours
- routine appointments can be made by visiting the surgery and speaking with a receptionist during opening hours
When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with.
Our consultation guide provides helpful information.
When calling to book an appointment with a GP or Advanced Nurse Practitioner we will let you know the date/time of our next routine appointment and which health care professional is best for your needs. If your symptoms needs urgent attention, we will refer to our duty doctor working alongside our receptionists to assess this. After 4:30pm we deal with urgent requests which cannot wait until the next day only, from 5:00pm, you will be directed to call a separate mobile number for your urgent request.
The majority of Nurse appointments are held face to face. Some appointments for asthma or COPD review may be held by telephone.
Extended Hours
We are available for pre-booked appointments for review of your chronic disease from 7:30 – 8:00am each morning Monday – Friday. You can book an appointment for these reviews from this time by calling 07977 814095.
Cancelling or changing an appointment
If you are unable to keep your appointment to see the Doctor or the Practice Nurse, please let us know as soon as possible as this can be used as an appointment for someone else.
How to cancel your appointment:
- using our online cancel an appointment form
- phone us during opening hours
- reply CANCEL to your appointment reminder text message
- If you are late for an appointment you may be asked to re-book.
Routine vaccinations
- Aberdeen Health and Social Care Partnership Vaccination team are responsible for all vaccinations in Grampian. You will receive an invitation to attend your vaccinations at a local vaccination centre. More information on their service can be found at www.grampianvax.com or by calling 01224 555333.
Your appointment
However you choose to contact us, we may offer you a consultation:
- by phone
- face to face at the surgery
If you need help with your appointment
Please tell us:
- if there’s a specific doctor, nurse or other health professional you would prefer
- if you would prefer to consult with the doctor or nurse by phone, or by face-to-face
- if you need an interpreter
- if you have any other access or communication needs
If you need help when we are closed
The 111 service provides urgent care information and support if you think you need A&E but its not life-threatening, and advice when your GP, pharmacy or dental practice is closed.
Call 999 in a medical or mental health emergency. This is when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.
When to call 999
You should only call 999 in a medical emergency, when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.
- Emergencies can include:
- Loss of consciousness
- Cardiac arrest
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- An acute confused state
- Chest pains
- Breathing difficulties
- Severe bleeding that cannot be stopped
- Severe allergic reactions
- Severe burns or scalds
- Major trauma, such as a road traffic accident or fall from a height.
If you are unsure if it is an emergency, call NHS 24 on 111.
What happens when you call 999
An operator will ask which emergency service you need. If it’s a medical emergency, ask for the ambulance service. The ambulance service will ask some questions to find out what has happened and arrange the most appropriate help.
Further information is available on the Scottish Ambulance Service website.
By only calling 999 for serious illnesses or injuries, it means that people who need essential treatment can get it as soon as possible.
Home visits
If you are housebound and need an appointment, we will do a home visit. We will phone you first to understand what you need.
To request a home visit, it’s helpful if you phone the practice as soon after 8am as possible.
Consultations 16 to 75
If a patient aged between 16 and 75 years has not had a practice consultation within a period of three years, we are happy, on request, to provide a consultation.
Additional information about your appointment with us
Can I bring someone to accompany me to the Appointment?
We are generally very happy for patients to bring with them a carer, relative or even a friend. This often helps, particularly when they know you well and it allows them to tell us any observations they would make about you, which can help us in undertaking our assessment. Ultimately this will lead us more quickly to make an accurate diagnosis and therefore help you more.
Also, having someone with you means they can prompt you to ask questions that you may have forgotten, and after the appointment they can help in reminding you what was discussed.
Occasionally we might ask for them to leave but this would be unusual.
If you require interpretation services please contact us in advance of you appointment and we will arrange this.
Chaperone Policy
We will always respect your privacy, dignity and your religious and cultural beliefs particularly when intimate examinations are advisable – these will only be carried out with your express agreement and you will be offered a chaperone to attend the examination if you so wish.
You may also request a chaperone when making the appointment or on arrival at the surgery (please let the receptionist know) or at any time during the consultation.
Giving Consent for Treatment
You have the right to accept or refuse treatment that is offered to you, and not to be given any physical examination or treatment unless you have given valid consent. If you do not have the capacity to do so, consent must be obtained from a person legally able to act on your behalf, or the treatment must be in your best interests.
Your valid consent (agreement to the course of action) is needed for the treatment that’s offered to you before any physical examinations or treatment can be given. If you haven’t given your consent, you can accept or refuse treatment that’s offered to you.
It’s important to be involved in decisions about your treatment and to be given information to help you choose the right treatment. When making treatment choices, you’ll often discuss the options with your doctor or another healthcare professional.
If you have a suspected infectious disease
Please inform reception if you suspect an infectious disease, as this will enable us to deal with it appropriately during your visit to protect you, other patients and staff.
Interpreter
If you require an interpreter to attend with you when you see your Doctor please notify the receptionist and this will be arranged.
Intimate Examinations
During your care, a doctor may need to examine you in order to provide you with the best care. Occasionally this may involve an examination of intimate areas. We understand that this can be stressful and embarrassing. If this sort of examination is necessary:
- We will explain to you why the examination is necessary and give you the opportunity to ask questions.
- We will explain what the examination will involve, including whether you can expect it to be painful or uncomfortable.
- We will obtain your permission before carrying out this examination You will be offered a chaperone.
- At all times we will respect your privacy during the examination and while dressing and undressing.
Your doctor and the nursing staff will be happy to discuss any concerns you have about this.
Private Medical Examinations
Medical examinations for special purposes such as pre-employment, fitness to travel, elderly drivers, fitness to undertake sports etc, will require longer than a routine appointment.
These examinations do not form part of NHS Services, you will be charged for any such examination. Please check the fee chargeable when you require to arrange any such examination.