Patient Services Information

Newsletter Returns!

Following the retirement of Lesley Horn, Health Visitor, in the summer of 2006 the newsletter lapsed as we had lost our very capable editor! We have now formed a new team to coordinate a quarterly newsletter for our patients. The newsletter is one way for us to communicate updates and news about the practice and we would very much welcome any ideas/suggestions you have for forthcoming editions – attached is a comment slip which can be handed in to the reception.

Plasma Screen

We now have a plasma screen in the waiting area as a further tool to provide up-to-date information on e.g. doctor availability, student research projects etc. We hope you find this useful and again, please feel free to give us your comments in the future.

Team Building!

A selection of team members met on Saturday 28 April 2007 – early morning – 10am! To walk over the Pentlands. It was a glorious day and with the guidance of a Ranger everyone managed to last the full 2 hours.

Patient Services

There are a small number of services provided by the practice that are not covered by the NHS, and therefore attract a fee. These include private prescriptions, private sickness notes, fitness to travel letter, passport applications, private health care forms, pre-employment medicals and travel vaccinations. A full list of services and fees is displayed in the waiting area. If you are uncertain whether a service you require may attract a fee, please ask at the desk.
We have recently had feedback from patients that there is variation in charging arrangements between different practices in relation to travel vaccinations, and this has led to some concern and confusion. We adhere strictly to the Department of Health advice on charges for specific travel vaccines, and we are happy to discuss this with patients and indeed to show them a copy of the updated guidance to all practices in the Lothian area, who should be following the same rules.
When requesting travel advice and travel vaccines from the practice, we would suggest that you read the list of our charges at the start, so that you are clear about the fee structure. We are happy to answer any queries you may have.

Test Results:

Please remember to telephone for results of any test carried out by the Doctor or Nurse (except smears). Please wait 5 working days before calling 260 9227 after 9am (and not between 1-2pm) Monday to Friday. A few test results may take slightly longer than 5 days but the reception team will advise you of this when you call.

Summer 2007

Staff News

Firstly we say goodbye: to our longstanding receptionist Pat Craik who has retired; to Irene Fraser also from the reception team; and to Sandra MacRae (Practice Nurse) who has taken up a new post in Muirhouse. We will miss them all and wish them all the best in the future.
The Health Visiting Team was joined by Eleanor Lowrie in October ; Eleanor has many years of experience as a health visitor and works Mon/Wed/Thursday.
The Practice also has a new practice nurse, Alison Donald, who joins us from the University Medical Centre and will be working part-time.
We have 2 new members of the reception team: Monika Stolarczyk and Helen Banks.
Warm Stockbridge welcome to all!

Congratulations to Dr Nairn MacLeod who worked as a long-term locum for the practice over the last 2 years, and who has now taken up a permanent post at Ladywell Medical Practice in Corstorphine.
Welcome back to Dr Hayley Tait and Dr Janet Sayers who returned from maternity leave in February after the births of Hannah and Jonathan. Finally – we have a new “Foundation” doctor, Rachel Lucey who will spend 4 months with us until August as part of her second year of training post-qualification to gain experience of general practice after stints in intensive care and paediatrics this year - so quite a change!

High Achievers:

Well done to Russel Sanders (IT) who ran the Edinburgh Half-Marathon in 1hr 12mins with his cousin and raised £149 for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Congratulations to our lead nurse Pauline Waugh who achieved Fellowship by Assessment (Queen Margaret University) last autumn – the culmination of months of hard work and submissions.

And finally huge congratulations to Dr Barry Parker for obtaining his MSc in Primary Care from the University of Dundee - involving several years of modules and a 20,000 word dissertation.