Can another Healthcare Professional help?
Do you need to see the GP?
Sometimes the GP is not the most appropriate Healthcare Professional to deal with your ailment. Please see the information on see a Doctor or Healthcare Professional, which might help you decide whether a GP appointment is truly necessary or whether it might be better for you to see a Pharmacist, Optician, Dentist or other Healthcare Professional. You can even self-refer for some services without seeing your GP.
Arranging your Appointment
From June 2024, as a pilot project, you will be able to book routine telephone calls or in person appointment online (if you have registered to access Patient Services). If not registered yet, please register online now for Patient Services.
You can also telephone our medical receptionist team to book an appointment. You will be offered a phone consultation or in person appointment. The medical receptionist will ask you for a brief account of what you would like to speak to the doctor about.
Please try to answer your phone as our GPs will only try twice to contact you.
Please note: Online appointments for telephone calls are between 8am to 1pm for morning appointments and 1pm to 6pm for afternoon appointments. They do not correlate to the time slot specifically.
If you do not have an online account for patient services, this needs to be created by the Meadows Medical Practice. Please complete this access form before logging in below: Register for Online Services.
Please log in to arrange a phone call or in person appointment (limited availability as pilot project) .
GP practices are open
What has changed ?
All appointments are being triaged. This helps keep you safe and makes sure that those who need to be seen in person are prioritised. We will see everyone in person who needs to be seen.
What is triage?
This is an assessment to decide, with your agreement, whether it is best for you to be:
- Seen in person, or
- Given advice over the phone or via video consultation, or
- Helped by another healthcare provider such as a community pharmacist, physiotherapist, dentist or optician.
Why do medical receptionists ask questions?
GP reception staff are a vital part of the health care team and are there to triage enquires.
You don’t have to tell them anything that makes you uncomfortable, however they can help you get the most appropriate appointment as quickly as possible. All the information they handle is treated confidentially.
What about emergencies?
Always dial 999 in a life-threatening emergency.
If you need help with minor injuries or urgent care when your GP practice is closed dial NHS 24 on 111.
Where else can I get help?
Visit NHS Inform Scotland for advice on common symptoms and a list of local services or speak to your pharmacist first for advice on minor illnesses.
Call 111:
- for minor injuries
- for urgent mental health advice and guidance
- if you’re too ill to wait for your GP or dentist to open.
Please be patient
Our health services are under enormous pressure, but we are open and here if needed. Please work together with us to make sure you get the right care, in the right place, at the right time by the appropriate health professional for your needs.
Medical Reception Teams do a very difficult job and have the right to work without the threat of violence or being verbally abused.
For real life-threatening emergencies such as those below – RING 999
- Chest pain (suspected heart attack)
- Suspected stroke
- Suspected meningitis
- Anaphylactic shock (severe allergy)
- Heavy bleeding or deep lacerations
- Fluctuating levels of consciousness or completely unconscious
- Difficulty breathing or stopped breathing with a change in colour
- New seizure, fit or uncontrollable shaking
For immediately serious conditions such as the following, GO TO Emergency Department (A&E) IMMEDIATELY
- A fever and lethargic (drowsy) child
- A feverish and floppy (unresponsive) infant
- Difficulty breathing
- Sudden, severe abdominal pain
- Accidental or intentional overdose of medication
- Trauma (including falls) and possible broken bones or road traffic accident
Patients who have a problem outwith the surgery opening hours that can’t wait until the surgery reopens should contact NHS24 by dialling 111.
Your appointment at the Practice
- Please make one appointment for each member of the family who needs to be seen
- We try to keep to time but please be patient if someone before you takes longer than planned
- Appointments are normally ten minute slots, so if you have a complicated problem, or more than one problem, please ask for a longer appointment
- It is Practice Policy to allow patients to choose whichever Doctor they wish to attend in the Practice
Please help us
It is important that you inform our reception team if you are unable to attend your appointment, as this will allow that appointment to be offered to another patient. If you fail to notify the Practice that you are unable to attend, you will be sent a letter informing you that you have defaulted from your appointment.
Persistent defaulters maybe removed from the practice list. If you are late for an appointment you may be asked to re-book.
4th Year Medical Students from Edinburgh University
We now have 4th year medical students from the University of Edinburgh training with us.
We will ask your consent before a student is present in your consultation, and if you would prefer not to allow this, we understand and respect your feelings.
Additional information
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
A telephone interpretation service is available by prior arrangement. If you require this service please notify our reception team when you book the appointment.
Please note that this is not available for appointments booked on the same day.
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.