Who Should I See?

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. Many patients attend with conditions that would get better with self-care. Studies show that 25-40% of consultations with a GP are unnecessary so it would help if patients only booked an appointment with a GP if they really need to.

Examples of the ailments best treated by yourself are:

• Upset stomach
• Grazed knee
• Common cold
• Sore throat
• Headache
• Colds & Flu

There are a wide variety of helpful Self Care information and resources available which could help you to treat your illness without the need for an appointment:

We have provided our patients with a list of services that you can self-refer to without the need to see a GP or Nurse. You can normally self-refer by phone, attend a drop in clinic or by completing a self-referral form which you can send via email or post to the service of your choice.

Visit a Pharmacy for healthcare advice without an appointment

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.

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.

No appointment is necessary and your local Pharmacist is usually open late, is available at weekends and many public holidays. It will also save you making an appointment with your GP.

Please note during the current pandemic, physical distancing restrictions will be in place, it maybe more appropriate to telephone the pharmacy before attending.

The most appropriate person to see for your specific condition may not be your doctor.

Please see our page on Mental Wellbeing for a list of all the local resources and supports available.

You can also self refer to the Community Wellbeing Hub at St John’s.

We also have a Mental health Nurse who offers appointments two days a week for patients with urgent mental health concerns.

Need help now? Call ‘Breathing Space’ free on 0800 83 85 87.

Community Optician

Whatever your eye problem your first port of call should be an Optician. They can deal with urgent eye problems, check for eye disorders and treat any 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 you meet a set of criteria you may be entitled to a number of benefits when using NHS ophthalmic services. These could include free NHS eye examinations, NHS optical vouchers and refunds. This guide will explain these entitlements and who is eligible.

If you sustain an eye injury that requires immediate emergency treatment go to your nearest Accident and Emergency.

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.

However, if you are unregistered currently and you require emergency treatment, you should contact NHS 24 on 111.

Receiving NHS dental treatment in Scotland

Dental emergencies are: acute dental pain, facial or oral swelling, bleeding from the mouth or trauma.

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.

The main contact number for West Lothian is ASCET (Adult Social Care Enquiries Team) 01506 284848

Call 111

Call 111 when we are closed to speak to an NHS professional on any urgent health or medical issue.

Calls are free from landlines and mobiles.

You should call 111 if:

• it’s not a 999 emergency
• you think you need to go to A&E or another NHS urgent care service
• you don’t think it can wait for an appointment with your GP
• you don’t know who to call for medical help.

If you have an emergency please call 999

Medical emergencies can include:

• loss of consciousness
• an acute confused state
• fits that aren’t stopping
• chest pain
• breathing difficulties
• severe bleeding that can’t be stopped
• severe allergic reactions
• severe burns or scalds

Mental Health Crisis?

You should call 999 or go to A&E if you, or someone you know, experiences a life-threatening medical or mental health emergency. These are cases where there is immediate danger to life or physical injury. A mental health emergency should be taken as seriously as a medical emergency. If you feel like you may be close to acting on suicidal thoughts or have seriously harmed yourself, you should call 999 or go to A&E directly if you need immediate help and are worried about your safety.

Call the Samaritans

Whatever you’re going through, a Samaritan will face it with you. We’re here 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Call us for free on 116 123.

It’s important to use A&E only for serious injuries and major emergencies.

For everything else, Minor Injury Units, out-of-hours services and your local pharmacy can also help.

Textphone and BSL users

If you use a textphone you can call NHS 24’s 111 services (18001 111).

If you’re deaf but want to use the phone service you can use the ContactSCOTLAND-BSL interpreting video relay service, available 24/7.

Find out more about the 111 service

If you have a minor injury please Call MIA for a confidential assessment with a qualified Nurse Practitioner.

This service can help patients aged 12 years and over quickly and easily with a recent minor injury including:

• strains, sprains and suspected broken arms and legs
• wounds and minor burns
• minor bumps to head and face
• simple eye injuries
• insect bites and stings

To arrange an assessment with MIA please call NHS 24 on 111. Then choose option 2 then 1.

A Nurse Practitioner will assess your injury and provide advice and treatment. A lot of minor injuries can be treated from the comfort of your home or with the help of a local pharmacy.

If they decide you need to go to a Minor Injuries Service, you will be given a convenient appointment time to save you waiting when you attend.

In the case of a life-threatening emergency always dial 999 for assistance.

If the patient is under 12 years old you should take them to a minor injury service, which are open seven days a week every day of year, at one of the following sites:

Royal Hospital for Sick Children Emergency Department

50 Little France Crescent
Edinburgh
EH16 4TJ
Google Map: Royal Hospital for Sick Children
24/7

St John’s Hospital Emergency Department

Howden Road West
Howden
Livingston
West Lothian
EH54 6PP
Google Map: St John’s Hospital
24/7

We have an Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioner Service two sessions per week. APPs can help with any new or ongoing musculoskeletal problems, offering diagnosis and advice. If you require a course of treatment they will advise you on how best to access this.

Please also see the link below for more information on how you can help yourself.

You will find lots of self help, including exercises, for most musculoskeletal conditions at NHS inform .

Health Care Assistant : phlebotomy, blood pressure checks, B12 injections

Treatment Room Nurse : dressings and wound care, suture removal, contraceptive injections, immunisations, cervical smears, warfarin monitoring, arterial dopplers, syringing

Practice Nurse : asthma, cardiac, COPD, diabetes, stroke annual check ups. In addition our nurses have diploma training and specialist interest in contraceptive advice and initiation (pills) and initiating specialist diabetic medications (GLP1 injections). They also undertake warfarin monitoring.

Advanced Nursing Practitioner (ANP) : Acute problems (excluding mental health, gynaecology and paediatrics) eg infections such as chest, throat, urine and skin. Asthma & COPD follow up.

Some patients, often those with complex and long-standing medical problems, may need an appointment with a doctor.