Welcome to Morningside Medical Practice
CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19). UPDATED 26 August 2020.
We ask all patients that if you have any concerns and/or symptoms regarding COVID-19 then to please visit www.nhsinform.scot/coronavirus or call NHS24 on 111.
Please note that private COVID-19 tests are not offered by our medical practice.
From 9th April the main practice door will be closed.
We are operating as normal but for the safety of our patients and staff, we are now operating a complete telephone triage system, where the clinician will call you back, and can offer a face to face appointment if clinically needed. It is important that you do not attend the surgery unless advised by a clinician. Please call our receptionist team on 0131 452 8406.
If you are offered a face to face appointment, when you arrive, please press the intercom button. You will then speak with a receptionist who will alert the clinician that you have arrived. We will ask you if you wish to wait outside or come into the practice to wait, and the clinician will call you through. As we do not have a sheltered waiting area, we would strongly advise that you do not arrive earlier than your appointment time. We thank everyone for their patience.
Patients wishing face mask exemption
The Transport for Scotland website states that here is no requirement for GPs to provide exemption letters. Please click here for the link.
If you would like more reassurance by having a card showing face mask exemption, then please click here.
Prescriptions
Please order your prescriptions online and nominate a pharmacy that we can send this to rather than coming in to the surgery. We will only issue the normal repeat prescription requests - no additional amounts will be prescribed.
Specimens
To improve infection control, we have changed our policies on patients and their carers handing bodily fluid specimens (urine, faecal, sputum). We ask that all patients and/or carers should speak with a clinician PRIOR to handing a sample. A sample that is handed in without clinician authorisation may be discarded.
Test Results are given out after 11am
If you are unable to work for more than seven days because of COVID-19, you can obtain a self isolation note through the NHS online service by clicking here.
Shielding, futher assistance and support
Some patients may have received letters from the Chief Medical Officer indicating that they are at risk of severe illness compared to others if they catch Coronavirus (COVID19) due to an underlying disease or health condition.
These patients are asked to 'shield' which means that they should stay at home at all times and avoid all face-to-face contact for at least twelve weeks, except from carers and healthcare workers who must see them as part of their medical care.
The Scottish Government can help with provisions and additional services, and will send these patients with a letter detailing instructions to text their CHI (patient identifier) to a phone number. Please click here for a copy of that initial letter.
Please note that these services won't be available until the Scottish Government central database is updated which can take several days. The Scottish Government will notify patients when this has been done by a second letter.
In an attempt to protect all patients who are considered to be at highest risk of severe morbidity or mortality from COVID-19, The Scottish Government may have sent some patients a shielding letter, but on reflection, may not be required. If a patient has received a letter to shield, but do not think they need to, then please contact the practice to speak to a doctor to discuss the risks and benefits.
At Morningside Medical Practice, we are performing searches, and calling our patients who we believe should be shielded. However, if a patient has not received a shielding letter, but believe that should be shielded, then we ask if they could contact the practice to speak to a doctor to discuss this further.
As well as shielding, we are also discussing anticipatory care planning to discuss what is most important to the patient and their family. These conversations can be challenging and emotive, but they are very important discussions to allow preparation and support - what would be important if you became very unwell with coronavirus, and how would you like to be cared for, and where? For more information, please click here.
If you have need further assistance or support, we would advise patients to click here for the Ready Scotland website, and if you are over 70 or disabled or require support from the mental health services, or are pregnant, or receive a flu jag, you could call the National Support Line on 0800 111 4000.
Anticipatory Care Planning
As well as shielding, we are also discussing anticipatory care planning to discuss what is most important to the patient and their family. These conversations can be challenging and emotive, but they are very important discussions to allow preparation and support - what would be important if you became very unwell with coronavirus, and how would you like to be cared for, and where? For more information, please click here.
Patient Self Help
There are many health problems that do not require a doctor or nurse. These include:
- PHARMACIST - coughs & colds, sore throats, uncomplicated urine infections, verrucas, constipation, smoking cessation, hay fever, mouth ulcers, dry skin, contraception.
- OPTICIAN - dry, red, sore, watery, sticky eyes; squints, flashing lights, cysts/styes, reduced vision, eyelid problems. Please click here for more information
- PHYSIOTHERAPY - musculoskeletal problems
- PODIATRY - foot problems
A full list of patient self help services are on the "further information" bar at the bottom of the page.
New Registrations
Quick Links
With patients' needs at the heart of everything we do, our website has been designed to make it easy for you to gain instant access to the information you need, such as
Training Closures
Please note that we close for staff training every Tuesday between 13:00 to 14:00. Please phone NHS24 on 111 or 999 for any medical emergencies.
Public Holidays
Fri 25th Dec 2020
Mon 28th Dec 2020
Fri 1st Jan 2021
Mon 4th Jan 2021
Remote Video Consultations (please only use this if directed by a clinician following telephone triage appointment)
Morningside Medical Practice will shortly be introducing remote video consultations with our clinicians.
Following allocation of your appointment, we ask patients to click the below link about 10 minutes before your appointment time to access our virtual waiting room. This will then allow the clinician to know you are waiting. We always endevour to 'connect' at the appointment time, but we do apologise if are running late as we can not predict the busiest of previous patient appointments.
Please click here for more information about Near Me Remote Video Consultations.
(Site updated 23/10/2020)