Medical emergency? Call 999. Practice closed and need urgent advice? Call NHS 24 on 111. Emergency? Call 999 · Closed? NHS 24 on 111
Practice hours Phone 01968 675 576. Reception open Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:30pm. Urgent medical problems only, 8am to 8:30am and 5:30pm to 6pm. Closed weekends and public holidays.

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Who should I see?

The quickest route to the right care for common problems, without waiting for a GP appointment you may not need.

Many problems are treated fastest by our wider team or local NHS services. Find your problem below to see the best first contact. If you are unsure, phone us and reception will point you to the right person.

Call 999

For a life threatening emergency, such as severe chest pain, signs of a stroke, severe breathing difficulty or severe bleeding, call 999 now.

Where Pharmacy First is shown, your local pharmacist can advise and treat you through NHS Pharmacy First Scotland, usually with no appointment. If the pharmacy cannot help, contact the practice. You can meet the people named here on our Meet the team page. For pharmacy addresses and phone numbers, see our local pharmacies.

Minor injuries – call 111 first

Had a recent injury? A strain or sprain, suspected broken bone, wound or minor burn, minor bump to the head or face, simple eye injury, or an insect bite or sting can be treated by NHS Lothian's Minor Injuries Service – open every day of the year for adults and children over 18 months. Call 111 to book a scheduled appointment (video or face to face); if you turn up without one you may be asked to come back later. The service only sees injuries from the last 7 days – long-standing aches and pains without an injury are seen by the practice instead. During practice hours our Treatment Room Nurse can also treat many recent minor injuries. Locations and details: NHS Lothian Minor Injuries Service.

Find your problem

Start typing to filter the list, for example "rash" or "blood test".

Browse the full A to Z in the table below.

Common problems A to Z
ProblemBest first contactGood to know
Abdominal painGP or Advanced Nurse PractitionerOur Advanced Nurse Practitioner sees adults aged 18 to 50 for abdominal pain.
AbscessesAdvanced Nurse Practitioner
AcnePharmacy FirstIf it is not settling, our Advanced Nurse Practitioner can help.
AllergiesPharmacy FirstFor a severe reaction with swelling or breathing difficulty, call 999.
Annual long-term condition reviewTreatment Room Nurse or Healthcare AssistantUsually a 30 minute appointment.
Asthma reviewAdvanced Nurse PractitionerOften possible by phone if your asthma is well controlled.
Athlete's footPharmacy First
B12 injectionsTreatment Room Nurse
Back, muscle or joint problemsAdvanced PhysiotherapistYou can be seen without a GP appointment first.
Bleeding between periodsAdvanced Nurse Practitioner
Blocked or runny nosePharmacy First
Blood pressure checkHealthcare Assistant or Treatment Room Nurse
Blood test requestsAdvanced Nurse Practitioner or GPA clinician will advise whether a test is needed.
Blood tests (requested by a clinician)Treatment Room Nurse or Healthcare AssistantYoung children may be referred to the children's hospital for blood tests.
Breast lump or painAdvanced Nurse Practitioner or GP
Broken bone (suspected)Call 111 – Minor InjuriesCall 111 to book a scheduled Minor Injuries appointment. If the limb is badly deformed, or there is severe pain or bleeding, call 999 or go to A&E.
BurnsAdvanced Nurse PractitionerFor a minor burn in the last 7 days, you can also call 111 to book a Minor Injuries appointment.
Chest infectionGP
Chest pain999Call 999 for new or severe chest pain, or if you are in any doubt.
ChickenpoxAdvanced Nurse Practitioner or GP
ChlamydiaAdvanced Nurse PractitionerUsually starts with a phone call; a test kit may be arranged.
Coil fitting or removalPractice coil clinicPhone reception. A smear test can often be done at the same visit.
Cold soresPharmacy First
ColdsPharmacy First
Compression stockingsTreatment Room Nurse
ConjunctivitisPharmacy First or your optometristChildren under 2 should see a GP.
ConstipationPharmacy FirstChildren under 5 should see a GP.
Contraception adviceAdvanced Nurse Practitioner or GP
Contraceptive implantAdvanced Nurse PractitionerFitting, removal or both.
Contraceptive injection (Depo or Sayana Press)Advanced Nurse Practitioner
CoughPharmacy FirstSee a GP if it is severe or not settling.
CutsTreatment Room Nurse or Minor Injuries UnitCall 111 to book a Minor Injuries appointment rather than turning up.
Cystitis or urine infection (women)Pharmacy FirstNot suitable via pharmacy if infections keep returning, you have diabetes, blood in your urine, lower back pain, or a trimethoprim allergy. See our Advanced Nurse Practitioner or GP instead.
Dental problemsYour dentistA GP cannot treat dental problems.
DiarrhoeaGPYour pharmacist can also advise on short-term relief.
DizzinessGP
Dry eyesPharmacy First or your optometrist
Ear wax or ear syringingTreatment Room Nurse
EarachePharmacy FirstIf it is not settling, see our Advanced Nurse Practitioner or a GP.
Early pregnancy problemsAdvanced Nurse Practitioner or GP
EczemaPharmacy FirstOur Advanced Nurse Practitioner can also help.
Emergency contraceptionPharmacy FirstFree and confidential from any pharmacy, or from our Advanced Nurse Practitioner or a GP.
Erectile problemsAdvanced Nurse Practitioner or GP
Eye problems or simple eye injuriesYour optometrist or Minor Injuries UnitOptometrists (opticians) are the right first contact for most eye problems. A simple eye injury in the last 7 days can be seen at Minor Injuries – call 111 to book.
Fertility concernsAdvanced Nurse Practitioner or GP
Fever in adultsAdvanced Nurse Practitioner or GP
Fever in childrenGP
Flu symptomsGP
Hay feverPharmacy FirstPharmacy First treats ages 5 and over for hay fever.
Head injuryMinor Injuries Unit, Advanced Nurse Practitioner or GPCall 999 if someone is unconscious, difficult to wake, has a seizure, has major trauma or is rapidly worsening after a head injury. For vomiting or other concerning symptoms after a recent head injury, call 111 for urgent assessment. For a minor bump in the last 7 days, call 111 to arrange Minor Injuries care.
Head lice or scabiesPharmacy First
Headaches and migrainesAdvanced Nurse Practitioner or GPSee a GP if headaches wake you from sleep or you are already under investigation.
Heartburn and indigestionPharmacy FirstIf it keeps coming back, see our Advanced Nurse Practitioner or a GP.
HGV and other private medicalsGP PartnerPrivate fee applies. See fees on our Services page.
ImpetigoPharmacy First
Infected woundsAdvanced Nurse Practitioner or GP
Ingrown toenailAdvanced Nurse Practitioner or GP
Insect bites and stingsPharmacy FirstPharmacy First can treat infected bites (adults 18+). A bite or sting needing wound care can be seen at Minor Injuries – call 111 to book.
Medication side effectsGP
Minor injuries (recent)Treatment Room Nurse or call 111Strains, sprains, wounds, minor burns and bumps to the head or face, for adults and children over 18 months. Our Treatment Room Nurse sees injuries under 5 days old; NHS Lothian Minor Injuries units see injuries up to 7 days old – call 111 to book. Ongoing pain after an injury may be best seen by our physiotherapist (age 16+).
Minor surgeryGPStarts with a telephone appointment to discuss what is needed.
MolesAdvanced Nurse Practitioner or GP
Morning sicknessAdvanced Nurse Practitioner or GP
Mouth ulcers or oral thrush (over 5s)Advanced Nurse Practitioner or GP
Mouth ulcers or oral thrush (under 5s)Advanced Nurse Practitioner or GP
MumpsAdvanced Nurse Practitioner or GP
Nappy rashPharmacy First
NosebleedsAdvanced Nurse Practitioner or GPOngoing or repeated nosebleeds should always be seen by a GP.
Pelvic pain in pregnancyAdvanced Nurse Practitioner
Period problemsAdvanced Nurse Practitioner or GP
Piles (haemorrhoids)Pharmacy First
Podiatry (foot problems)Self-referralPhone 0131 536 1627 or collect a self-referral form from reception.
Power of attorney certificateGPPrivate fee applies. See fees on our Services page.
Pregnancy (first midwife appointment)MidwifePhone maternity services on 0131 536 2009, 9am to 5pm. You do not need a GP appointment first.
Prostate (PSA) test requestsGP
RashesAdvanced Nurse Practitioner or GP
Ring pessary fitting or changePractice GP clinicPhone reception to arrange.
RingwormPharmacy First
ShinglesPharmacy First (18 and over)Pharmacies cannot treat shingles affecting the mouth; see our Advanced Nurse Practitioner or GP.
Sick and fit notesAdvanced Nurse PractitionerFor an ongoing condition, ask your usual GP. See Sick and fit notes on our Services page.
SinusitisAdvanced Nurse PractitionerYour pharmacist can also help with mild symptoms.
Skin infections (including infected insect bites)Pharmacy FirstPharmacy First treats adults 18 and over. Children should see our Advanced Nurse Practitioner or a GP.
Smear testAdvanced Nurse PractitionerIf you are due a coil fitting, a smear can often be done at the same visit.
Smoking (help to quit)Pharmacy FirstYou can also phone Quit Your Way free on 0800 84 84 84.
Sore throatAdvanced Nurse Practitioner or GP
Sprains and strainsCall 111 – Minor InjuriesInjuries in the last 7 days. Call 111 to book a Minor Injuries appointment, or see our Treatment Room Nurse during practice hours.
STI checksAdvanced Nurse PractitionerUsually starts with a phone call; a test kit may be arranged.
SunburnPharmacy First
Suture or staple removalTreatment Room Nurse or Healthcare Assistant
Swollen feetGP
Swollen lipsAdvanced Nurse Practitioner or GP
ThreadwormsPharmacy FirstAges 2 and over. If you are breastfeeding, see our Advanced Nurse Practitioner or a GP instead.
Thrush (vaginal)Advanced Nurse Practitioner or GP
TicksTreatment Room NurseThe nurse can remove a tick and will involve a GP if needed.
Travel vaccinations and adviceNHS Lothian Travel ClinicSelf-referral on 0131 537 2823. Contact them well before you travel, as some vaccine courses take weeks.
Urine infection (children)GPHand in your child's urine sample as soon as you can.
Urine infection (men)Advanced Nurse Practitioner or GPPharmacy First cannot treat urine infections in men.
Vaginal dischargeAdvanced Nurse Practitioner or GP
Varicose veinsSelf carePainless varicose veins rarely need treatment; see NHS inform. If painful or inflamed, see our Advanced Nurse Practitioner or a GP.
VomitingGP
Warfarin (INR) checksTreatment Room Nurse
Warts and verrucasPharmacy FirstIf not settling after pharmacy treatment, our Advanced Nurse Practitioner can help.
Wound care and dressingsTreatment Room Nurse

This guide covers common situations and is not a complete list. Reception may ask a brief description of your problem so they can book you with the right person; this is treated in confidence.

More self help

Trusted NHS advice, symptom checkers and local service directories are on our Self help page.

What would you like to do next?

Arrange an appointmentBook with the right member of the practice team.Get self-help adviceTrusted NHS advice, symptom checkers and local services.Contact the practiceSee telephone times and the best time to call.

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