There are many services available to help you to stay healthy. Some of these services can be accessed directly. For others, you need to be registered with a GP Practice.
Making the most of your Practice
- When you wish to consult a Clinician about your medical condition, you need to make an appointment. If you go along to the Surgery and do not have an appointment, you will not be seen.
- The Practice may may suggest that you are seen by another appropriate and qualified Healthcare Professional
- When you see your Clinician about a medical condition, she or he may arrange for further investigations. 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 at another medical facility
- If your Clinician thinks that you need to be seen by a Specialist or another Healthcare Professional, she or he will refer you. You cannot make an appointment to see an NHS Specialist without being referred by your GP
- You are entitled to refuse a treatment or investigation if you have capacity, but you are not entitled to demand a treatment if this is not required nor clinically appropriate
- If you require medication, the GP or Clinician will issue you a prescription, which you will then need to take to a community pharmacy.
- The Practice can arrange for an Interpreter if required, who may work either face-to-face or via telephone.
- We will try to answer the phones promptly. Please note that there is significant demand on the phones at 8.30am, so we appreciate your patience.
Help your Practice to help you
Newhills can be very busy, particularly at peak times. Staff try hard to accommodate all of our patients. In return, you are asked to behave in a polite and considerate manner.
To assist us in making things as efficient as possible:
- Please attend 5 minutes before your appointment time. Please do not arrive too early for your appointment – it is very unlikely you will be seen before your appointment time.
- If you are unable to attend your appointment, please let us know ASAP.
- If you do not attend three or more appointments, the Practice may de-register you. This means that you would stop being a patient of the Practice and you would no longer be seen by us
- If more than one member of your family needs to see the Doctor or other Healthcare Professional, please book one appointment per patient
- If you have to discuss a complex medical issue please let the Receptionist know so a suitable length of appointment can be arranged
- We kindly request one problem per appointment. This is in your interest, as it allows significantly safer diagnostics.
- Please notify the Practice if you change your address, telephone or mobile phone number
- We ask that you treat all staff with courtesy and respect
- Investigation results take time to be returned to us and interpreted. Please do not phone earlier than you have been advised. Queries regarding any investigations arranged by the hospital teams should be directed to the relevant departmental secretary.
Other help available
- Cough or cold, or if your child has a minor ailment – your Pharmacist may be able to help you
- Eye problem – you should go to an optometrist
- Tooth, tongue or jaw problems – visit your Dentist
- Foot problem – you can self-refer to Podiatry
24 hour emergency cover is provided by NHS24 111
There are Minor Injuries Units at most hospitals where staff will assess minor injuries such as sprains, burns and simple fractures and either treat them or, if they find a more serious problem, arrange for you to be seen by the most appropriate Healthcare Professional.
For a list of Minor Injury units near you please access button below.