Armadale

18 North Street, Armadale
EH48 3QB
Tel: 01501 730432

Blackridge

Blackridge Health Centre
Fleming Place, Blackridge, EH48 3SS
Tel: 01501 751238
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Practice News...

Practice Changes Update

We just wanted to let you know that the car park is going to remain closed for the foreseeable future. This is for safety reasons around the work we are currently having done in the practice. We would also ask that you do not park on the side of the road at the entrance to the car park as we have various delivery lorries etc. that are trying to come in and out of the practice during the day. There is a disabled bay available at the front of the practice and alternative parking can be found across the road from the surgery.

Practice Changes

We wanted to let you know that our Armadale Practice will undergo some changes in the coming weeks. This is to allow for some building works in the practice that will take place from Tuesday 27th February 2024 and run for approximately 2 weeks. We will have a temporary reception/script area in place and there will be signage to guide you towards this as you arrive at the practice. Please continue to use the check in machine when you arrive for your appointment.

If you have a nominated pharmacy, we will remind you to pick up your prescription from there and not come to the practice to collect it.

During the works there will be a lot of noise in the practice. Please be prepared for this.

The car park at Armadale will be closed on Friday 23rd and Monday 26th of February to allow preparation for the building works.

Right Care Right Place - NHS Lothian

Health services are extremely busy this winter. Please get the right care in the right place:

  •    Search nhsinform.scot for self-help advice    Search nhsinform.scot for self-help advice
  •    Visit your pharmacist first for minor illnesses and medicines    Visit your pharmacist first for minor illnesses and medicines
  •    Contact your GP practice for routine or urgent care during normal opening hours    Contact your GP practice for routine or urgent care during normal opening hours
  •    Call 111 for minor injuries or urgent GP or dental care out of hours    Call 111 for minor injuries or urgent GP or dental care out of hours

Find out more at https://services.nhslothian.scot/rightcare/

NHS 24 - Helping you find the right care

Please click here to read the "NHS 24 Helping you find the right care" leaflet.

Fit to Work Notes Med 3 Advice

Please click here for guidance on Fit to Work Notes (previously known as Sick Notes/Sick Lines). This information is for both Patients and Employers.

Information on prescriptions issued after a private consultation

This following explains how a prescription issued after a private consultation, is different to an NHS prescription and how you can receive your medicine.

Private clinicians may write to NHS clinicians requesting for treatment to be continued within primary care. Please note that NHS clinicians are under no obligation to issue an NHS prescription for patients who have had medicines prescribed privately.

Please see further details below explaining why your GP may not be able to transfer your private prescription onto an NHS prescription.

Why am I being given a private prescription?

If you have seen a doctor or other healthcare professional privately and they need you to start a treatment, you may be issued with a private prescription. Private doctors are not allowed to issue NHS prescriptions. This is because private consultations are not part of the NHS.

Can I ask my GP for an NHS prescription if I have seen the clinician privately?

There are a number of reasons why your GP may not be able to transfer your private prescription onto an NHS prescription. These include:

  • The medicine being recommended on your private prescription is not allowed on an NHS prescription.
  • The medicine being recommended is not provided by your local NHS.
  • In your local area the medicine may not be included in the normal NHS treatment for your condition, therefore it would not normally be recommended on an NHS prescription.
  • The medicine being recommended is not included in your local medicine formulary.
  • The medicine being recommended is only suitable for specialist or specialised prescribing.
  • Normally, NHS specialists and not GPs, would prescribe the medicine. So, GPs may be unfamiliar with the medicine and how it should be prescribed and reviewed. GPs would not normally prescribe these medicines on NHS prescription.

What is the difference between a private prescription and an NHS prescription?

With a private prescription you will need to pay for the full cost of the medicine plus a dispensing fee, which covers the pharmacy’s costs. The pharmacy will calculate the total cost, and this is paid by you or your medical insurance company. The total cost can vary at different pharmacies, so it is worth asking more than one pharmacy how much they will charge you to provide the prescription.

How do I get my medicines if they are on a private prescription?

If you have been given a private prescription by your healthcare professional, you can have this dispensed at a pharmacy of your choice.

A private prescription is normally written on letter headed paper and has all the information about the medicine and how you need to take it. The pharmacy will inform you how much they will charge you to provide the prescription. The pharmacy has to keep the private prescription for their records once your medicine has been dispensed.

I cannot afford to pay for the treatment privately, what can I do?

It is important to consider all potential costs when using a private consultant and this includes medicine costs. If your GP is unable to prescribe the medicine on an NHS prescription for one of the reasons documented, you should speak to the clinician that issued you with the private prescription to discuss what to do next. This may include them recommending an alternative less costly medicine.

Practice Newsletter

The Spring 2023 Practice Newsletter is now available for download (PDF). If you prefer you can pick a copy up from the practice reception.

Advanced Nurse Practitioners

Advanced Nurse Practitioners

We currently have an Advanced Nurse Practitioner attached to the Blackridge site and are delighted to announce that we will soon be welcoming two Advanced Nurse Practitioners to the Clinical Team in Armadale. Here is some information about what they can do:

  • Advanced Nurse Practitioners are experienced, professional, highly educated, registered Nurses who work at an extremely high level of Practice. They have advanced clinical and practical skills which are relevant to their specific role.
  • They manage the complete care of patients in an acute or chronic situation and have the authority to investigate, refer, admit and discharge within their defined clinical roles.
  • They are competent in the investigation and interpretation of results. They can prescribe medications, administer sick lines, refer to secondary care for specialist review and can care for patients just as effectively as a GP.

NHS Pharmacy First Scotland

Need free advice or treatment without a GP appointment? Contact Pharmacy First.

Find more info at https://www.nhsinform.scot/care-support-and-rights/nhs-services/pharmacy/nhs-pharmacy-first-scotland.

Macmillan – Improving the Cancer Journey Service

Being diagnosed with cancer can be overwhelming and many people don't know where to go for support. If you are living in the Lothians and have been affected by cancer, our Improving the Cancer Journey service is here to help you live as well as possible.

An appointment with the Improving the Cancer Journey practitioner gives a person the time to discuss their concerns and think about 'what matters to them'. The service is here to help people affected by cancer (including family members and carers) access the right support at any point on their cancer journey.

Here are some of the things we can offer support with:

  • Money or housing worries
  • Work
  • Caring responsibilities
  • Physical concerns
  • Emotional Concerns

If you would like to find out more about how we can help or to book an appointment, please contact us:
Tel no: 07977307286 / 07929784315
Email: loth.icj@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk

Access Your Covid Vaccination Information

You can now access your Covid vaccination information via the NHS Inform website. Please see the link below for more information:

NHS Inform - Get a record of your coronavirus vaccination status

West Space

This week sees the launch of the new WESTSPACE site : https://westspace.org.uk/

WESTSPACE is the one stop shop online mental health and wellbeing resource for all adults in West Lothian. It is clear, concise and locally lead. The site is fully accessible and using the recite me tool the viewer can use audio description, change the colour of the screen to support conditions such as dyslexia, print of any page or translate the full site into over 100 languages.

The site contains an easy access service directory, showing your 3rd sector and charity partners in West Lothian and this directory can be filtered by several categories including local area. The service information is regularly updated and contains info such as cost (if any), location, accessibility and waiting times. The site also has a fantastic self-help page with useful guides and resources, worksheets, YouTube videos, apps and suggested podcasts for each area such as help with sleep, anxiety, men's mental health and many more.

Quit Your Way (Stop Smoking)

Quit Your Way Services deliver free stop smoking support at a variety of locations, and are provided by stop smoking specialists. Sessions are very informal and their friendly stop smoking specialists will discuss the products that can help you quit (Nicotine Replacement Therapy or Champix). Their sessions run weekly, are open access and there are daytime and evening sessions.

Please click here to find out more.

CALL MIA - Minor Injury Assessment

NHS Lothian are now offering a Minor Injury Assessment by video call in your own home. Their aim is to provide timely assessments, advice or treatment for patients.

Read more about MIA here.

Cruse Scotland

No one needs struggle with the death of a loved one alone, Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland is here and ready to help. Their contact details are:

Chronic Disease Reviews

It is important that we continue to provide a level of service that is safe to both our patients and Practice staff as per government guidance. We will continue to monitor our services and update these as advised.

More information about Chronic Disease Reviews

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

The new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will take effect from 25th May 2018. Please click here for our privacy statement.

Patient Text Messaging

We can now offer a text messaging service to remind you of pre-booked appointments. In order to do this, we need your signed consent. Please complete a form at Reception to allow us to fulfil this service.

Patient Clinical Information

Please click here for information on the Lothian Eye Health Network.

Staff Training 2023

The surgery will be closed from 13:00 on the following afternoons for staff training:

  • No training days are currently planned.

Public Holidays for 2023/24

The GP practice is closed on all public holidays so please ensure that you have enough medication to last you during these closures. If you require medical attention when the practice is closed please contact NHS24 on 111.

2023

  • Monday 18th September
  • Monday 25th December – Christmas Day
  • Tuesday 26th December – Boxing Day

2024

  • Monday 1st January
  • Tuesday 2nd January