Appointments

To request an appointment:

 Please note we close between 12:30pm and 1:30pm 

  • Booking Appointments: Please phone during opening hours to arrange your appointment. We ask that you do not come to the Practice to book in person
  • Nursing Team: Available Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm. Early Access: We offer a limited number of early appointments every Tuesday (7:30am to 8:00am)
  • GP Early Appointments: We can offer early GP appointments on selected days from 7.30am

To ensure you are directed to the right care, our team will ask for brief, confidential details about your health; however, if you prefer not to say that’s OK. If you feel that you require attention on the same day and there are no appointments available, please inform the receptionist, who can advise you accordingly and may check with the duty doctor and get back to you about the most appropriate option for your problem.

Please refer to our consultation guide for help preparing for your appointment.

Doctor Appointments
The GP surgeries operate from 8:00am to 12:00 noon Monday to Friday, and from 2:00pm to 5:20pm Monday to Thursday. Our latest appointment on a Friday is 4:20pm.

Nurses Appointments 

Our practice nurses are available between the hours of 8:30am and 5:30pm, Monday to Friday. We offer early morning appointments with the nurse on a Tuesday from 7:30am.

Please note: All calls are recorded for training and monitoring purposes.

Direct access via reception

The following services are available at the practice. Appointments can be booked directly with reception, with no initial consultation or referral needed.

The GP Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioner (GPAPP) is embedded in the medical practice to offer patients and GPs a specialist service for the Assessment and Treatment of Musculoskeletal conditions for those aged over 16. We see acute and chronic conditions related to muscles, joints and the nervous system, with a view to early diagnosis, advice and onward referral as appropriate. The aim is to be able to see patients in a much shorter timeframe than a normal physiotherapy referral route, to assess and intervene early, thus providing much needed early access for patient. Appointments can be booked via our Reception team, there is no need to see the GP first.
We have a dedicated Practice Mental Health Nurse, the role is designed to be a ‘first contact’ offering initial assessment and personalised care-planning, advice, signposting and onward referral to other services as appropriate. We can see patients between the ages of 18 to 64 inclusive who contact the Practice requesting an appointment for mental health conditions
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Appointments are made via Reception staff and the patient does not need to have been seen by a GP prior to seeing the Practice Mental Health Nurse. These appointments are longer than what can be provided by GPs. The Practice Mental Health Nurse is highly experienced and trained in assessing and managing a range of mental health conditions. They will talk to the patient and assess any immediate needs, such as identifying whether an urgent/same day referral is required.

Choose the Right Service

​Many health care problems do not need a doctor or nurse. Other professionals such as pharmacists, opticians and dentists may be better placed to help.

Contact your own dentist first. If this is not possible:

For patients aged 16 years and over – Chalmers Street Dental Clinic 0131 536 4800 (Chalmers Street also has a walk-in clinic Monday to Thursday 9:00am to 4:45pm and Friday 9.00am to 4:15pm pm).
For patients under 16 years – Edinburgh Dental Institute 0131 536 1129 (Open Monday to Friday 9:30am to 11:00am and 2:00pm to 3:00 pm).
When to call 999

It’s important to remember that 999 should only be called in a medical emergency, specifically when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.

Misusing the emergency number can delay help for those who genuinely need it.

  • 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.

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:

Late arrivals policy

Patients have a duty to attend for their pre-booked appointments promptly, and to take into account logistical difficulties or the time involved in travelling to the practice.

  • If you arrive less than 10 minutes late for your appointment time we will try to accommodate you as best we can and this may require a wait
  • If you arrive more than 10 minutes late for your appointment it is at the discretion of the clinician whether we are able to see you. You may be asked to rebook.

Failure to attend appointment

Our Practice policy is if you fail to attend two appointments (either face to face or telephone) without informing us we will write to you asking if there are any specific problems preventing you from letting us know. If you miss a further appointment we will send a second letter which is a final warning. Following this if you continue to miss appointments you may be removed from the Practice list and have to find an alternative GP practice.

If you can’t attend an appointment please cancel it in good time. Our appointments are extremely valuable, when one is missed it is at the detriment of another patient who could have been seen instead.

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 before 10:00am.

Routine vaccinations

Vaccinations help protect you and your family from many infectious diseases. You’ll be offered different routine vaccinations at different times, depending on your age and circumstances. For most routine vaccinations, your local health board will invite you by sending you a letter when you become eligible.You do not need to contact them to arrange your vaccinations.

You may be invited to a new location to receive your immunisations instead of your GP practice.

However you choose to contact us, we may offer you a consultation:

by phone
face to face at the surgery

Appointments by phone can be more flexible and often means you get help sooner. One appointment – one patient. Always make sure that staff are aware that you are in the waiting room and please arrive on time for your appointment.
Please tell us:
if there’s a specific doctor, nurse or other health professional you would prefer to respond
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.
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.

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.

NHS Scotland does not recommend choosing to pay to travel abroad for surgery as part of a packaged holiday. This is sometimes called surgical or cosmetic tourism.

Surgical options in Scotland can appear more expensive. But you should think about the potential savings against the potential risks of travelling for surgery. If you still wish to do this, be aware that NHS Scotland is under no obligation to provide pre and post-operative care other than emergency care.
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.