Choose the Right Service
Every year, millions of us visit our GP with minor health problems that can be easily resolved without a doctor’s appointment. It is estimated that every year, 50 million visits to the GP are made for minor ailments such as coughs and colds, mild eczema, and athlete’s foot. 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.
It is important that everyone uses their GP and local Accident and Emergency services wisely.
Book an appointment
To request a GP / Nurse Practitioner appointment:
- Request an appointment with an online triage form:
You can submit your health queries between the hours of 8:00am and 10:00am, Monday to Friday. Please provide as much information as you can. This information will allow the GP to triage your request to the most appropriate clinician in the most appropriate time frame. - If you do not have internet access please contact our Patient Care Advisors who are able to help you on 01555 752150 or visit the surgery and speak with our Patient Care Advisors.
- If you require urgent medical attention during the hours of 10:00am to 6pm, please call us on 01555 752150. Please provide our Patient Care Advisors with as much information as you can and this information will be passed to the on-call GP.
- Our consultation guide provides useful information to help you prepare for your consultation.
To request a Practice Nurse appointment please phone the practice on 01555 752150 between 8am and 6pm.
St Luke’s Extended Hours
The practice runs an Extended Hours Clinic for routine appointments between 7.30am and 8.30am, Tuesday to Friday (excluding public holidays).
Cancelling or changing an appointment
If you are unable to keep your appointment to see any of our clinicians, 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
- If you are 10 minutes or more late for an appointment you may be asked to re-schedule.
Find out more about the Charter of Patient Rights and Responsibilities on NHS inform.
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. Your local health board will invite you by sending you a letter when you become eligible.You do not need to contact them or the practice to arrange your vaccinations.
You will be invited to a new location to receive your immunisations instead of your GP practice.
Your appointment
However you choose to contact us, we may offer you a consultation:
- by phone
- face to face at the surgery
- by video
Appointments by phone, or video can be more flexible.
If you need help with your appointment
Please tell us:
- If there’s a specific doctor, nurse or other health professional you would prefer to respond
- 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 it’s 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. See the below link for guidance.
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.
St Luke’s Home visits
If you are housebound and need an appointment, we will do a home visit. Prior to any visit, a Clinician will phone you to discuss your request for a home visit. Please ensure you meet the criteria for a home visit by clicking this link home visit.
To request a home visit, please phone the practice before 10:00am.
Additional information about your appointment with us
Can I bring someone to accompany me to the Appointment?
We are happy for patients to bring with them a carer, relative or 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 please notify the receptionist and this will be arranged.
Intimate Examinations
During your care, a Clinician 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 clinician 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.