Who should I see?

It is important that you are given an appointment in the most appropriate clinic with the health care professional that can best address your needs. This is no longer necessarily a GP. In recent years, the team has grown to include a range of health professionals who focus on different clinical issues and problems (see below). The most significant development at Eildon Medical Practice is the introduction of advanced nurse practitioners (ANP) over both sites. An ANP is a registered nurse who has undertaken specific advanced nurse training and is qualified to treat and prescribe for most problems. They can initiate treatment, order tests, make referrals to specialists and organise hospital admissions. If required an ANP can organise for a GP to speak to you by telephone or see you in a routine appointment quickly. In the meantime, they may gather some information from you about your problem and organise any tests needed in advance of this appointment. The introduction of the ANP role is allowing the GPs to focus on non-emergency and preventative medical care. When you call the practice the medical receptionist has been instructed to ask you for a brief description of your illness to check you get booked in with the right clinician. Anything you discuss with any member of the practice is confidential.

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Seeing an Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP)

The ANP is often the first health professional you are likely to see when at the practice for all new problems. In addition, an ANP can also see patients for a number of conditions such as chest infections, sore throats, sore ears, abdominal pain, UTI, rashes, new skin problems, allergic reactions, eye infections, children’s minor illness, back pain, STDs, colds, emergency contraception, headaches & migraines, diarrhoea & vomiting, insect bites, hay-fever or shingles.

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Seeing a Doctor

GPs are trained in medicine and are qualified to treat people for general health problems, such as illnesses or injuries that cannot be treated by over-the-counter medication such as:

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Seeing a Practice Nurse

All consultations with the practice nurse are by appointment and are available daily. Appointments can be booked up to four weeks ahead. The practice nurse is available for such things as:

• Child immunisations
• Cervical smears
• Contraception injections
• Long term management of chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease, asthma, hypertension, COPD, diabetes or stroke.
• Spirometry test
• High blood pressure reviews

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Seeing a Health Care Assistant

A health care assistant can deal with a number of clinical matters and who can avert the need to see a GP or the nurse. If you are unsure, please ask the reception team who will be happy to advise you. All slots are by appointment as with the nurse slots.

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Seeing a District Nurse

Nursing care is provided NHS Borders by our district nurses. They see patients by appointment at the surgery for dressings, removal of stitches. They also visit patients who are housebound. The district nurse team can be contacted through reception on either site.