Minor Injuries Unit: a local alternative to A&E for minor injuries

The Minor Injuries Unit at the Western General Hospital, Edinburgh is open seven days a week from 8.00am to 9.00pm (last patient in at 8.30pm). It is staffed by specialist nurses and offers the following services:

• Treatment for a wide range of injuries, such as cuts, burns, sprains, and simple fractures (less than 7 days)
• X-rays on limb injuries for patients aged 12 years and over
• Simple painkillers, tetanus vaccination and certain antibiotics for patients aged 12 years and over
• Physiotherapy referral
• Advice and health promotion is offered to all patients who attend

Click to view map and instructions on how to get to the WGH

The Minor Injuries service is being offered virtually via MIA (Minor Injury Assessment). Patients should call the Flow Centre on 111 to arrange an assessment with a Nurse Practitioner. You may be offered a video consultation or a face-to-face appointment depending on symptoms.

It's important to note there are certain criteria (and exclusions) in order to use this service.

Please view the following attachment for more details:MIA 

*Emergency Department / Accident & Emergency (A&E):

*If you feel that you require A&E treatment but do not feel your condition is life-threatening (e.g. heart attack/stroke/shortness of breath/severe wounds), please call 111 to be triaged and directed to the best source of care. This may be the Minor Injuries Assessment (MIA) for an appointment or virtual self-care advice, your GP surgery or even a pharmacy. Help us, help you!

The Emergency Department at the Royal Infirmary deals primarily with the needs of adults (aged 13 and over) who require emergency treatment. The department sees and treats over 1500 people each week.

Please think carefully before using emergency services. People who use emergency services for minor problems may prevent others with emergencies from getting immediate care.

Emergency conditions include trauma, head injuries, suspected fractures, drug overdose, suspected heart attack and breathing difficulties.

Emergency Department, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (age 13 and over)
51 Little France Crescent
Old Dalkeith Road
Edinburgh
EH16 4SA
0131 536 1000

Click to view map and instructions on how to get to the RIE

For children under the age of 16 years, there is a separate emergency department: 

Click to view map and instructions on how to get to RHCYP

Further information on emergency services at: www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk

Dental Services:

You can consult our Dentist Finder to find a list of Dental Practices nearest to your home (Please note that this is simply a list of dentists and they may not be registering new NHS patients).

Emergency dental care - Daytime Hours:

If you are registered with a dentist, contact your dental practice. If you are not sure about the emergency arrangements at your dental practice, ask about these the next time you visit.

Unregistered patients : If you are not registered with a dentist, or are unable to contact your dentist, an emergency service for the relief of pain only is available:

Chalmers Dental Centre (Adults 16years and over)
3 Chalmers Street
Edinburgh 0131 536 4800

Children's Department (Children under age 16)
Edinburgh Dental Institute
Level 3, Lauriston Building
Lauriston Place
Edinburgh

The centre is open Monday-Friday from 9am. As it can often be very busy, patients seeking urgent treatment should arrive before 3pm.

Directions and contact details: www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk

Emergency Dental Care - Out Of Hours:

If you are registered with a dentist, phone your dental practice. All NHS dentists have arrangements in place to provide cover for their registered patients.

Unregistered patients

If you are unregistered please telephone the Lothian Dental Advice Line: Tel 0131 536 4800. Lothian Dental Advice line is operational in the evenings and at weekends to offer advice or to arrange for you to receive urgent dental care. A dental nurse adviser will take your call and assess the urgency of your symptoms in a similar way to the triage nursing system at Chalmers Dental Centre (above). The emergency service is only available for the relief of pain.

Pharmacy Minor Ailments Scheme

Are you exempt from prescription charges? For example, if you have current maternity or medical exemption certificate, or if you are under age 18 and in full time education. If so, you are eligible for the Pharmacy Minor Ailments Scheme.

This is a new NHS scheme for people who don't pay prescription charges. It means that if your pharmacist thinks you need it, they can give you a medicine for a minor illness without you having to pay for it. This potentially saves you having to make an appointment with your GP to get a prescription for a minor complaint, which can include:

Acne, athlete's foot, backache, cold sores, constipation, cough, diarrhoea, earache, eczema, eye infections, emergency contraception, haemorrhoids, hay-fever, headache, head lice, indigestion, mouth ulcers, nasal congestion pain, period pain, thrush, sore throat, warts, worms, UTI (urinary tract infection) antibiotics or verrucae.

You have to register with the pharmacy of your choice to participate in this scheme, by giving your details and signing a form. The pharmacist will check electronically that you are exempt from paying for prescriptions. You can only be registered at one pharmacy at a time for this scheme, although you can still use other pharmacies to purchase medication or collect prescriptions. Remember you can still see your GP if you prefer, and that your pharmacist may advise you to seek medical advice when they feel that would be more appropriate.

This information has been taken from the NHS leaflet "The NHS Minor Ailments Service at your community pharmacy" - please collect or ask for further information at your local pharmacy, or look online at www.nhs24.com.

Physiotherapy

The practice has a physiotherapist working Tuesday and Friday mornings and all day Wednesday and Thursday. Please call the appointments line on 0131 260 9226 to arrange an appointment with Catriona Hewitt.

Catriona is able to refer patients for x-rays, suggest appropriate exercises after a assessment and recommend medication to help with musculoskeletal discomfort. 

Optometry/Opticians:

There have been significant changes to primary eye care since the 2006 General Ophthalmic Services Act Scotland. All people in Scotland are now entitled to a free eye check every 2 years.

In addition, optometrists are now offering a free NHS service to see patients with acute/new eye problems for assessment and further management as appropriate. This means that you can refer yourself, or your GP can refer you if appropriate, for various eye problems. This is a new and developing scheme which was introduced to make better use of community optometrists, who have significant expertise and sophisticated equipment to deal with more eye problems in the community. They are able to refer patients to the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion and most are able prescribe if appropriate. Phone your local optometrist or check with the practice if you have an eye problem which you think may be dealt with by your optometrist.

Podiatry:

Pennywell All Care Centre is the base for your local podiatry clinic. You can refer yourself by printing out and filling in the form then returning it to podiatry.

Podiatrists offer a range of services dedicated to foot care, including:

• Surgery for ingrowing toenails
• Biomechanics
• Insoles and specialised shoe wear
• Removing corns and dead skin
• Specialised diabetic foot care- neuropathic ulcers etc

Please note NHS podiatry does not cater for routine nail care and cutting unless there are relevant medical circumstances.

Breast Screening Service:

All women aged between 50-70 are currently offered breast screening by mammography (X-ray examination) every 3 years. After 70 you are still entitled to a mammogram, but you will not be automatically invited - phone the number below to ask for an appointment.

Women under the age of 50 are not offered screening unless they have previously had breast cancer, have a first degree relative who developed breast cancer early (usually taken to mean <45yrs of age), or are known to carry certain genes which predispose to early-onset breast cancer.

The programme is centrally coordinated with invitations being done on a 3 yearly basis by GP practice - this means that you may not be invited immediately on turning 50 (if your practice has just been screened), but you should have received your first appointment before turning 53.

Breast Screening Programme
Ardmillan House
42 Ardmillan Terrace
Edinburgh
EH11 2JL
0131 537 7400

Sexual Health Clinic:

The Sexual Health Clinic is an NHS clinic offering a wide range of services which include:

• Contraception (the pill, mini-pill, the coil, diaphragm, cap, condoms, sterilisation/vasectomy)
• Advice and management of - pre-menstrual symptoms and menopause
• Cervical smears and colposcopy
• Sexual health testing and advice
• Period problems
• Well woman advice and breast checks
• Young persons clinic
• Sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and treatment
• Counseling and testing for HIV
• Treatment and ongoing care for people with HIV
• Sexual health advice and promotion, including free condom supplies
• Emergency contraception and pregnancy testing

Please see their web site links for information and advice, or telephone to make an appointment:

Chalmers Sexual Health Centre
2A Chalmers Street
Edinburgh
EH3 9ES
0131 536 1070
www.lothiansexualhealth.scot.nhs.uk

You do not require a GP referral to attend the Sexual Health Centre, although your GP may suggest referral if you have initially consulted them. Some clinics operate on a drop-in basis.

Smoking Cessation

What are your reasons for stopping?

You may find it helps to focus on what's really important to YOU. It may be:

• better short-term health. Blood pressure and heart rate drop immediately, and circulation improves. Usually the lung cleansing mechanism also starts to recover, and breathing improves.
• a feeling of energy or well-being.
• less worry about long-term health risks. In general, risk of a heart attack halves in about a year and risk of cancer is greatly reduced within a few years of stopping smoking. Ask your doctor about the effects of smoking on your own health.
• feeling less stressed, and more in control, after the initial effort of stopping.
• social benefits. Less worry about whether you can smoke with friends or in public, and about the health risks for others.
• more money.
• pregnancy. You'll give your baby the best chance of a healthy start.

CONTACT:
Stop Smoking Service
TEL: 336 0976 or 551 1671

PLEASE READ THE "SMOKE FREE" LEAFLET FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT CLINIC TIMES AND SERVICES

MEDICATION MAY BE PRESCRIBED IF APPROPRIATE.

YOU WILL BE EXPECTED TO ATTEND FOR 6 TO 8 APPOINTMENTS.

NHS QUITLINE NUMBER: 0800 00 22 00

(HELPLINES AVAILABLE IN BENGALI, GUJERATI, HINDI, PUNJABI, URDU, TURKISH/KURDISH)

Childhood Immunisations:

The Community Vaccination Team (CVT) runs clinics on Tuesdays at the Health Centre. Once you have registered baby with the practice, the CVT will usually get in touch with you to arrange baby's first immunisation appointment. They will also arrange the subsequent appointments with you. However, if you have not heard from them or wish to reschedule an appointment, please contact them directly on 0131 312 1860. If you have questions about any aspect of the immunisation programme, please speak to the CVT first and foremost or the Health Visitor or Practice Nurse.

The UK Immunisation schedule and web site is given below:

www.immunisation.nhs.uk

Antenatal Care

I am pregnant - what next?

If you have a positive home pregnancy test, the first step is to make an appointment to see a midwife - call 0131 536 2009 for an appointment.
You should be taking a supplement of Folic Acid (400 micrograms for most women) for the first 12 weeks of your pregnancy, as this has been shown to reduce the risk of Spina Bifida (malformation in the baby's spinal cord). You may need a higher dose if you are diabetic, on medication for epilepsy, or have a previous or family history of problems related to Spina Bifida - please ask your midwife/GP if unsure.
At your first midwife appointment, you will be asked questions about your past medical history, family history, medications and so on. You will be able to discuss your pregnancy in general and to ask any questions. You will also receive an appointment for your first scan - this is usually done when you are around 10-12 weeks into the pregnancy, and is done primarily to confirm the "due date" for the pregnancy.

Who do I see in my pregnancy?

The majority of antenatal care is delivered by our midwifery colleagues who work in teams in the community. Our local midwife team is based at Pennywell All Care Centre but see our patients at the Health Centre for pre-booked appointments.
Most women have healthy uncomplicated pregnancies and will not routinely see an obstetric doctor. However, your midwife will liaise with our local consultant obstetrician routinely, and arrange appointments if necessary.

Do I need to see my GP?

No - your antenatal care may be entirely "midwife-led" if you choose. However, in our practice we feel it is important that your GP is still involved in your pregnancy.
For some women this may be the first time they have had regular contact with their practice, and the start of building up a relationship with their "family doctor".
For some women with health issues prior to or during the pregnancy (for example depression, asthma, irritable bowel syndrome), your GP will retain a major role in overseeing medical care and follow-up in these cases. Generally your midwife will discharge you 10 days after the birth itself, at which point your care and your baby's care will be from your Health Visitor and GP - and sometimes a practice may have generations of the same family as registered patients!

Where can I give birth?

There are 3 choices: the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, St John's Hospital in Livingston, or home birth. The vast majority of babies are born in hospital. Home birth may be suitable for some women but discuss this with your midwife.

What tests will I get?

All women are offered routine blood tests at 16 weeks into the pregnancy for blood group and screening tests for diabetes, anaemia, HIV, syphilis, hepatitis. Additional tests may be relevant in some women and will be discussed with you. Some of the blood tests are repeated at 28 and 36 weeks. In terms of screening for genetic problems such as Down's Syndrome, women are currently offered a blood test at the 16 week appointment - you will receive separate written information on this test.
Scans - standard practice is to have 2 scans; the "booking scan" as mentioned above at around 10-12 weeks (confirms dates of pregnancy) and a later "detailed scan" at 20 weeks. This scan looks at your baby's heart, kidneys, spine and anatomy.

What happens at a routine antenatal appointment?

Once you are through the first 4-5 months of pregnancy, your antenatal appointments will be more frequent and follow a pattern. Blood pressure is always checked as this can go up in pregnancy and in some women lead to a condition called Pre-eclampsia. We dip check a urine sample looking for signs of infection, diabetes, or associated blood pressure problems. We feel your tummy to check how the baby is growing (and later in pregnancy, the position of the baby) and listen in to the baby's heartbeat using a little machine called a Doppler. We discuss your general well-being and ask about any specific questions or concerns you may have. You are very welcome to bring partner, relative or friend to these appointments if you wish. NB please note if you wish to see your GP, you will need to book these appointments yourself with reception. If you wish to have purely midwife-led care, your midwife will make appointments for you.