Making the most of your practice

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Making the most of your practice

There are many services available to help you to stay healthy. Some of these services can be accessed directly (see below), and for others you need to be registered with a GP practice (surgery).

When you wish to consult a GP about your medical condition, you will need to contact the surgery with which you are registered to arrange to be seen. If you go along to the surgery and do not have an appointment, you may not be seen. The practice may ask you to come back at another time, or may suggest that you are seen by another health care professional or other service.

When you see your GP about a medical condition, she or he may arrange for further tests to be carried out. If so, they will explain the arrangements for these tests and how you will get the results. These tests may be carried out within the practice or elsewhere.

If your GP thinks that you need to be seen by a specialist doctor or other health care professional, she or he will refer you. You cannot make an appointment to see an NHS specialist without being referred by your GP.

If you require medication the GP will give you a prescription which you should take to a pharmacy, who will supply the medicine for you.

If you have a preference for either a male or a female GP please check with the practice before you register, as some practices may have only male or only female doctors.

Interpreting/translator

An interpreting service is available and the practice can arrange for an interpreter who may work either face-to-face or by telephone.

If you need to use the interpreting service please ensure you ask the receptionist to arrange this when making an appointment.

If someone else is contacting the practice on your behalf, please remind them to ask the receptionist to book an interpreter.

Help your practice to help you

Practices can be busy places and staff try hard to accommodate their patients – in return you are asked to behave in a polite and considerate manner. There are some things that you can do that help the practice to keep surgeries running smoothly, so that people are seen at the right time.

When you have an appointment please attend at the time stated, and if you are not able to attend please let the practice know in advance, so that the appointment can be used by someone else who needs it.

If you do not attend appointments, the practice may deregister you. This means that you would stop being a patient of that practice and would no longer be seen by them.

If more than one member of your family needs to see the doctor or other health care professional, please book one appointment per patient.

If you have to discuss a complex medical issue please let the receptionist know so that a suitable length of appointment can be arranged.

Please notify the practice if you change your address and / or telephone or mobile phone number via phone call or via our online form.

What other help is available

The Pharmacy First Service allows patients to access FREE advice and / or treatment for anyone with impetigo and adult women with a uncomplicated urinary tract infection. Click here for more information.

If you have a cough or cold or if your child has a minor ailment your pharmacist may be able to help you.

If you have an eye problem, you should go to an optometrist.

If you have a dental problem, you should go to a dentist.

If you have a foot problem, you can self refer to Podiatry by telephoning: 0141 347 8909 Monday – Friday 8am-8pm, on Saturday 9am-1pm or by emailing: Appointments@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

You can self refer to physiotherapy.

If you need to see a specialist your GP will refer you.

If you are unwell and your GP surgery is closed, 24 hour cover is provided by NHS24. You can contact them on telephone no: 111.

Minor Injuries Units

There are Minor Injuries Units at which staff will assess and either treat a range of injuries including sprains, burns and simple fractures or, if they find a more serious problem, arrange for you to be transferred elsewhere.

New Stobhill Hospital, 133 Balornock Road, Glasgow, G21 3UW. MIU is open from 9am – 9pm Monday – Sunday, Tel: 0141 355 1536

New Victoria Hospital, Grange Road, Glasgow G42 9LE. MIU is open from 9am – 9pm Monday – Sunday, Tel: 0141 347 8474

Vale of Leven, Main Street, Alexandria, G83 OUA. MIU is open from 8am – 9pm Monday – Sunday, Tel: 01389 817345

West Glasgow, Yorkhill Hospital site. MIU is open from 9am – 9pm Monday – Sunday, Tel: 0141 201 0290

Children with minor injuries

In Greater Glasgow, children under the age of one with a minor injury should be taken to the Royal Hospital for Children, next to the new QEUH (Queen Elizabeth University Hospital); and children aged one to five with minor injuries should be taken to the Royal Hospital for Children, next to the new QEUH or to Glasgow Royal Infirmary A & E .

In the Clyde Area, children under the age of one with a minor injury should be taken to Royal Alexandra Hospital, Corsebar Road, Paisley, PA2 9PN; and children aged one to five with minor injuries should be taken either to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley, Inverclyde Royal hospital Larkfield Road, Greenock, PA16 OXN, or the Vale of Leven Minor Injury Unit.