How To See The Doctor
Emergencies
Please phone 505900 (day or night). During the day a receptionist will put you through to a doctor for immediate advice. If necessary, the duty doctor will then attend as soon as possible. In a dire emergency dial 999.
Urgent Problems
Please either phone for an appointment in the ‘On the Day Surgery’ in the morning, or ask to be fitted in to a surgery later in the day.
On the day surgeries are designed for urgent problems which you feel must be dealt with that day. For review, or non urgent problems, please book an appointment in an ordinary surgery.
Telephone Advice/Consulatations
This service is designed if:
- You require advice only
- You do not think an examination will be required
- You wish to discuss test results or medication
- You require some types of follow up appointment
A duty doctor is available in the Health Centre between 8.30 and 11.00 every morning to provide urgent advice. If necessary you may be given an appointment to attend a doctor or nurse.
Each day a number of appointments are set aside for telephone consultations with doctors and nurses. You will be phoned at, or as near as possible, your booked appointment time. Please therefore make sure we have your correct phone number and that you are available to answer the phone.
Home Visits
Please try to phone before 10 am if you feel a home visit is essential. A doctor will visit you in your home if you are too ill to get to the Health Centre. However, if possible, we ask that you come to the Health Centre to see the doctor - several patients can be seen in the surgery in the time it takes to visit someone at home.
Surgeries
These are held every weekday and appointments are available with both doctors and nurses - please book with the most appropriate person (see here for services which are usually provided by nurses).
You can make an appointment by phoning, or by calling at the practice. We try to offer a range of appointment times throughout the working day. In addition, we have evening surgeries on Tuesdays from 6.00 to 7.30 pm.
Evening and Weekend Calls
The Surgery is closed from 6.00 pm until 8.30 am each day and at weekends. During these times, if you have an urgent medical problem which will not wait until the practice reopens, the call will be handled by NHS 24.
How to use the service:
- Dial the practice number 01556 505900 or 111 - you will be connected to NHS 24 where your details will be recorded.
- A triage nurse will phone back to give medical advice, or arrange for you to be seen by a doctor in Dumfries, or by a nurse at the minor injuries unit at Castle Douglas or Kirkcudbright Hospital. House calls will be arranged only if clinically indicated.
Specialised Clinics
These are described in detail here. Appointments can be booked by telephone, or by calling at the practice.