Healthcare assistants support practice nurses with their daily work and carry out tasks such as phlebotomy (drawing blood), blood pressure measurement, ECGs and NHS Health Checks. They may act as a chaperone when a patient or doctor requests one. Receptionists provide an important link for patients with the practice and are your initial contact point for general enquiries.
They can provide basic information on services and results and direct you to the right person depending on your health issue or query. Receptionists make most of the patient appointments with the GPs and nurses. They also perform other important tasks such as dealing with prescription enquiries, financial claims and patient records and carrying out searches and practice audits.
They can provide basic information on services and results and direct you to the right person depending on your health issue or query. Receptionists make most of the patient appointments with the GPs and nurses. They also perform other important tasks such as dealing with prescription enquiries, financial claims and patient records and carrying out searches and practice audits.
Services
Out-of-hours services are generally busy so please think carefully before asking to see a doctor and only do so if you genuinely cannot wait until the surgery re-opens. If you feel you have a genuine emergency such as shortage of breath, chest pain, possible stroke or if someone has collapsed, you should call 999.
It is important to make this initial appointment as early as possible - at least 6 weeks before you travel - as a second appointment may/will be required with the practice nurse to receive any required vaccinations. These vaccines have to be ordered as they are not a stock vaccine. Some travel vaccines are ordered on a private prescription and these incur a charge over and above the normal prescription charge.
If you are ill while away from home or if you are not registered with a doctor but need to see one you can receive emergency treatment from the local GP practice for 14 days. After 14 days you will need to register as a temporary or permanent patient. You can be registered as a temporary patient for up to three months.
Reviews (9)
Alison Howes
Dec 08, 2021
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I've been with Merchiston Surgery for 36 years. Always found the Doctors to be excellent. I know the current situation, but I've been trying to get an appointment to see my own doctor for 3 weeks' now. This afternoon I eventually got a connection on my 35th attempt (the first 34 calls just drop out after dialling as the system can't cope) I then held for an hour and 19 minutes until I eventually gave up. Luckily for me I can change surgery which is what I will be doing.
Tracy Clayton
Dec 04, 2021
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Joe Cosway
Nov 17, 2021
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Brian Webster
Nov 16, 2021
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David Harbron
Nov 01, 2021
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Honestly sort your processes out, ive tried over 100 times to ring to speak to someone, you need a much better system the one you have currently is unhelpful for everyone as you can never speak to anyone, the dr's I have seen on the odd chance I get to see someone have always been great but you need to look into a much better system as the one you have currently is rubbish.
Ronnie Robins
Oct 28, 2021
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They have no care for mental health patients. I've requested a call with a doctor due to suicidal thoughts. They already know I have sleep issues but call me early and are then surprised I don't answer when every other call I have requested is late afternoon. They have told my CARER I should make phone calls by myself? Absolutely disgusting considering im suffering and disabled
Charlotte Linstead-Hewlett
Jul 22, 2021
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I order my prescriptions online through Merchiston, I do not use POD due to their negligence previously. I ordered medicines as always, waited and phoned the pharmacy to ask where they are- they directed me back to Merchiston who gave me code numbers, back to the pharmacy whom advised it was sent to pharmaceutical company - after a lengthy call they advised they are not licensed for these medications and it got sent to the SPINE aka Ether- noone picks it up or looks into it, the pharmaceutical company think they have done their job by not following it up!! Merchiston Scripts advised its sent by
Emma H.
Jun 21, 2021
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Catherine Redvers-Weston
Feb 17, 2021
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Doctors themselves, 5 stars. Trying to see a doctor, if I could give minus stars I would.
For the past year, they have only accepted same day urgent requests. This means everyone phones saying it's urgent, just to get an appointment. Maybe you'll get lucky and see one, but if you need a referral, any kind of work note or to discuss an ongoing condition, you will be told to see your own doctor. Which means phoning up every morning. Appointments are given on a first come first served basis, irregardless of who your doctor is, so just anyone can be assigned to any doctor. So when you phone up needing
For the past year, they have only accepted same day urgent requests. This means everyone phones saying it's urgent, just to get an appointment. Maybe you'll get lucky and see one, but if you need a referral, any kind of work note or to discuss an ongoing condition, you will be told to see your own doctor. Which means phoning up every morning. Appointments are given on a first come first served basis, irregardless of who your doctor is, so just anyone can be assigned to any doctor. So when you phone up needing
