We are able to offer several different types of appointments with clinicians at the surgery depending on the needs of each individual. All of these different types of appointments can be made with one of our experienced Advanced Nurse Practitioners or a GP. If you are not sure which type of appointment is best for you, please feel free to discuss with one of our admin team.
- Routine Face-to-Face Appointments
- Same Day/Urgent Face-to-Face Appointments
- Urgent Telephone Appointments or “Triage Calls”
- Medication Review Telephone Appointments
- Home Visits
Routine Face-To-Face Appointments
These are appointments which can be booked with clinicians up to 4 weeks in advance. These are generally for more long term conditions or problems which patients do not feel need to be seen on the same day they phone for an appointment. If you would rather see a specific ANP or GP for these appointments please just ask when booking. Appointments are allocated at 15-minute intervals. If you attend an appointment with more than one medical issue, please discuss the most important first as it may not be possible to discuss all issues within the allotted time. If you feel you need a longer appointment, please discuss this with the receptionist.
Same Day/Urgent Face-to-Face Appointments
These are available every day and are for problems which arise suddenly and need to be seen urgently. Please do not request these appointments for more routine matters, as this may make it harder for us to see patients who are very ill. To make one of these appointments, please call reception as soon as you are able to that morning to be given an appointment for that day. If there are no appointments left for that day, we will ask the duty doctor to call you back to help decide how urgently you need to be seen.
Urgent Telephone Appointments or “Triage Calls”
These are made on the day with the Duty Doctor, who is a different GP every day. These are reserved for urgent issues which patients feel cannot wait for the next routine appointment. Our reception staff will often initially offer a Same Day Face-to-Face Appointment in the first instance, as most of the time urgent issues will require an examination in order for us best to decide how to proceed. If this isn’t suitable for the patient, they will be offered a same day call back from a GP. Due to the way the Duty Doctor system works, this cannot be from a specific GP, so if you would rather wait to speak to a GP you know this will likely be made for a few days later.
Medication Review Telephone Appointments
These are with a GP and are shorter appointments as are purely to review a specific medication. You might be asked to book one of these when you request a prescription. We aim to review all medications on an annual basis, but some require more regular review. If you wish to discuss more than just your medication, please also book a routine telephone or face to face appointment as the GP will not have time to deal with more issues in these short appointments.
Home Visits
Whilst we encourage our patients to come to the surgery, where we have the proper equipment and facilities available, we do appreciate this is not always possible. In this respect, if you do need a home visit, you can help us by calling reception ideally before 10:30am.
You may only request a home visit if you are housebound, terminally ill or are too ill to visit the practice. The clinician will visit you at home if they think that your medical condition requires it and will also decide how urgently a visit is needed. Please bear this in mind and be prepared to provide suitable details to enable the clinician to schedule house calls.
Please note we do not automatically visit patients on discharge from hospital, so if you feel that you or a family member needs a review please contact the surgery.
Practice Nurse Appointments
Sometimes one of our Practice Nurses are the best people to see about certain issues or problems, and so our reception staff will offer an appointment with them in the first instance. Examples of the types of things our nurses are trained to help you with are:
- Contraception
- HRT
- Smears
- Blood pressure
- Asthma/COPD checks
- Healthy lifestyle advice
- Diabetes
- Wound dressing or stitch removal
Who is the most appropriate professional for your care?
Please consider what the best options for your healthcare are, based on the urgency of your condition and nature of your ailment. General Practice work in conjunction with other Primary Care providers such as opticians, physiotherapists, pharmacists and podiatrists who can deliver advice and treatment within the Community
To ensure you get the best care possible we can help make sure you get to see the right person, at the right time, in the right place.
This may save you time in getting the help you need and avoid arranging an unnecessary appointment with your Doctor.
Self Care Advice
A range of common illnesses such as cold and flu and minor injuries can be treated at home simply by combining a well-stocked medicine cabinet with plenty of rest.
Examples of ailments best treated yourself:
- Upset stomach
- Grazed knee
- Common cold
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Colds & Flu
There is a wide variety of helpful Self Care information and resources which could help you to treat your illness without the need for an appointment:
Pharmacy First for Advice and Prescriptions
Visit a pharmacy for healthcare advice without an appointment
Your local pharmacist is able to help with minor cuts, sprains, aches and pains, colds and flu, headaches, rashes, cystitis, emergency contraceptive (most pharmacies now offer this service) and other common conditions.
It is estimated that every year, 50 million visits to the GP are made for minor ailments such as coughs and colds, mild eczema, and athlete’s foot. By visiting your pharmacy instead, you could save yourself time and trouble.
‘Pharmacy First’ is a national programme to make better use of pharmacy skills and widen the range of services available in local pharmacies.
Under the scheme pharmacies across NHS Ayrshire & Arran should be the first port of call for women suffering from uncomplicated urine infections and people over the age of two with the skin condition, impetigo. For adults aged 18 and over can also visit their pharmacy for treatment for skin infections and shingles.
Everyone can go to their pharmacist for advice or to buy a medicine for a minor illness or ailment. This is a NHS service. It means that if your pharmacist thinks you need it then they can give you a medicine on the NHS. It will also save you making an appointment with your GP simply to get a prescription.
Treat Yourself Better
We support the campaign to encourage people to self-treat minor ailments such as colds and flu. The Treat Yourself Better Without Antibiotics website is full of information to help people understand when how long they can expect their symptoms to last for, when they need to see a doctor and when they would be better off visiting their local pharmacist for advice.
No appointment is necessary and your local pharmacist is open late, is available at weekends and many public holidays.
Mental Health Concerns
If you have an non urgent mental health problem, then make appointment with one of our mental health nurses/CPNs by calling reception.
Already known to Mental Health Services?
If you are already known to mental health services you contact your local health team directly.
Samaritans
Whether it’s an ‘are you ok?’ at just the right moment, or the midnight support of a trained volunteer; whether it’s better training in the workplace or campaigning for more investment in national and local suicide prevention – we’re here 24/7 during and after a crisis.
Telephone (Calls are FREE) 116 123
Out of hours
Please contact NHS 24 on 111
Our website contains lots of useful information and support services regarding Mental Wellbeing.
Advice on money, benefits, debt management or budgeting?
See our Link worker
GP Link workers work in the surgery and can provide extra help to patients.
- Are you recently bereaved?
- Have you experienced a breakup or change in your family?
- Have you lost your job or retired?
- Are you a carer?
- Do you experience mental ill health or stress?
- Do you feel isolated or alone?
The GP Link workers can:
- identify existing support, such as local groups and services
- agree practical goals and the support you need to achieve these goals
- accompany you to these support services until a strong link is made
You can book a telephone or face to face appointment with our link worker by contacting reception. They will talk with you, listen to your problems, and discuss what you want to change in your life.
Social Care
There are lots of services which offer help and support to improve your quality of life and allow you to continue to live in your own home. For example, if you are elderly or disabled, have a long-term health condition or are unwell. However, it can sometimes be confusing to try to work out what help is available and who offers what services.
Dental Issues & Emergencies
For dental emergencies, call the dentist with whom you are registered. You should receive a recorded message advising you of the arrangements that have been made for emergency cover. If you have not registered with a dentist, please try to do so as soon as possible. Dentist’s can perform an appropriate assessment and advise on necessary intervention including use of any antibiotics.
Advice and information is available by calling a Dental Advice Helpline.
However, if you are unregistered currently and you require emergency treatment, you should contact NHS 24 on 111.
Dental emergencies are acute dental pain, facial or oral swelling, trauma or bleeding from the mouth.
Eye problems
Community Optician
Whatever your eye problem your first port of call should be an Optician. They are the best people to assess urgent eye problems, check for eye disorders and treat eye conditions. They have the professional training and necessary equipment to assess most eye problems.
Opticians can also refer patients to Hospital if and when appropriate.
Find a local Optician in your area (once you are linked to the NHS Inform page, select your local Health Board or local Authority to find an Optician near you).
Self-help guide: Eye problems
Find out more about your eye problems, when you can use self-care, and what to do if your condition worsens and you need medical help
If your optician is closed and you can’t wait until it reopens call NHS24 on 111.
If you sustain an eye injury that requires immediate emergency treatment go to your nearest Accident and Emergency.
Sexual Health
Sexual Health Ayrshire
Do you need advice or an appointment? We encourage people to use their local clinics which are completely confidential and friendly places to visit.
To book a Clinic appointment telephone: 01294 323226
Many of our clinics are “drop in” clinics. This means you attend and wait to be seen.
People attend the clinics for a variety of reasons…
- Contraception – including emergency contraception and condoms
- Pregnancy testing
- Advice about planning a pregnancy
- Counselling and referral for termination of pregnancy
- Sexually transmitted infections- testing, treatment and information
- HIV information & testing
- Hepatitis B testing and vaccination
- Hepatitis C testing and Info
- Sexual problems
- Information/ advice about sexual health issues
Muscle and Joint Issues
Practice Physiotherapist
Mr Scarisbrick is a Senior Physiotherapist and is the first point of contact for all patients who have a muscle or joint problem. You can make an appointment directly with him by simply asking our receptionist.
He currently works at the practice every Monday.
Musculoskeletal Advice & Triage Service
This service can help by:
- finding out if you need to see a doctor
- providing key information and advice to help with your problem
- referring you to a physiotherapist or podiatrist if you need it
They can’t:
- arrange home visits – this should be arranged by your Doctor
- book and manage your physiotherapy appointments
Call 0800 917 9390 (9:00am to 5:00pm, Monday to Friday). Calls are free from landlines and mobiles.
Musculoskeletal Service Website
This website provided by NHS Ayrshire & Arran, contains lot of useful information on management of joint pain. They also have a very informative Facebook page – “MSK NHS Ayrshire & Arran”.
Podiatry Services
Podiatry Services
You can self-refer to Podiatry , without seeing a GP or Nurse. If wish to refer yourself to Podiatry, please download the form shown below;
Once completed please return the completed form to:
AHP RM
OT Corridor
Main Building
Ailsa Hospital
Ayr KA6 6AB
If you wish to enquire about a Podiatry referral or a Podiatry appointment, please telephone : 01563 826361
Monday to Friday 8:30an to 12:30pm & 1:00pm to 4:00pm
Minor Injuries
Use your local Minor Injuries Unit if you need medical treatment or advice which does not require a visit to A&E or a medical appointment.
Some examples of problems they deal with:
- sprains and strains
- suspected broken limbs
- minor head injuries
- cuts and grazes
- bites and stings
- minor scalds and burns
- ear and throat infections
- skin infections and rashes
- eye problems
- coughs and colds
- feverish illness in adults
- feverish illness in children
- abdominal pain
- vomiting and diarrhoea
- emergency contraception
