Volunteers needed:
Baronscourt Surgery is involved in teaching medical and nursing students which requires willing patients to help.
If you would be interesting in offering some time please click here.
The answers to some of our most frequently asked questions:
How do I check what immunisations are needed for my holiday abroad?
How do I find out the results of my blood/urine/stool test?
I need some general advice, who is the best person to speak to?
What are the local pharmacy opening times?
How do access my medical records?
How do I request a home visit?
Who has the right to give consent for a child?
| How do I check what immunisations I need for my holiday abroad? |
Our Practice Nurses offers a basic travel health advice service here at Baronscourt. You can book an appointment with Karen or Vanessa by phoning reception. Patients must complete a short questionnaire with details of where they are travelling to prior to their appointment. This questionnaire must be handed into the surgery at least 7 days prior to your travel consultation. Ideally your appointment with the nurse should be at least 3 weeks before your departure. If you are travelling at very short notice, it may not be possible to accommodate you. You can download a copy of the travel questionnaire by clicking the following link:
| How do I find out the results of my blood/urine/stool test? |
Generally test results can take approximately 5-7 working days to come back, this does depend on the test. Receptionists may be able to give you the results between 11am and 4pm if they are available.
| I need some general advice, who is the best person to speak to? |
If you have a question for your GP that you feel does not require an appointment please phone reception and book a telephone consultation.
Quite often, your pharmacist can help with general health questions and will be happy to discuss those with you in a private area within the pharmacy.
The NHS 24 website is also a great source of information see NHS24. The website has an interactive self help guide which could answer some of your queries.
| What are the local pharmacy opening times? |
Nuchem (Lindsay & Gilmour Chemists) opening hours 9-6pm Monday - Friday. Opening 9-5pm on a Saturday
Willowbrae (Alliance Pharmacy) open from 9-1pm closing for lunch at 1, then reopening from 1.30-5.30pm
Boots Chemist are open between 9-5.30pm
Sainsburys Chemist, Meadowbank, are open between 9am-9pm
| How do I access my medical records? |
Everyone has the right to have a copy their medical records (please see charges for non NHS work) under the Data Protection Act 1998. You have a right to view your medical records if they have been amended in the last 40 days. It is intended that your records will be presented in a format that you will understand.
There are however some exceptions:
The Practice holds your medical records. Any record of treatment received elsewhere, such as in a hospital, will be kept within them. You can access records kept by other healthcare professionals such as dentists and opticians by following the same procedure as for your GP or hospital.
Request access informally
If you just want to check something in your medical records, the first step would be to put a request in writing to your GP or the Practice Manager, Ms Lorraine Black, asking if you can view them. We are not obliged to give you an appointment unless you make a formal application in writing to see them. Once permission is given you will be invited into the Surgery to look at your records under the supervision of the Senior Receptionist and then returning them but without taking a copy. You do not have the right to just turn up at the surgery and ask to see your records.
Request access formally
To apply formally for access to your medical records you need to do it in writing. You can do this by writing to your usual doctor or to the practice manager.
The advantage of applying in writing is that we are by law required to send a response no later than 40 days after your application was received.
| How do I make a complaint? |
There is a suggestions box situated in the waiting room were suggestions can be made in writing. All genuine suggestions will be given consideration. Alternatively, you may wish to feedback any suggestions to us by using the website Contact Us page. We are fully aware that things can go wrong which can result in a patient feeling that they have a genuine cause for complaint. If you feel that we have failed you please let us know. Any formal complaints should be addressed to Dr Michael Ryan, Complaints Partner or Ms Lorraine Black, Practice Manager.
| How do I request a home visit? |
Home visits are for patients who are physically unable or too unwell to come to the surgery. Please phone between 8.30-10am on the day that the visit is required and our reception staff will deal with your request. The receptionist may ask a few questions so that the doctor can assess the visit according to the urgency.
| Who has the right to give consent for a child? |
Children under 16 can give their own consent if the medical practitioner attending the child considers the child capable of understanding the nature and possible consequences of the procedure or treatment. If the child is judged capable, the practitioner must seek the consent of the child rather than of the parent. Where a child is judged incapable of consenting, consent should normally be obtained from a person with parental responsibilities and rights, or one of the other categories of person listed below. It should be noted that, if a child is capable of giving his or her own consent, the parents lose any right they may have had to consent on the child's behalf. This does not mean that parents must always be excluded from the discussions. Unless there are issues about the child's confidentiality, it would be reasonable to involve parents in helping the child to reach a decision. This would also be consistent with the philosophy of partnership with parents which underlies the Children (Scotland) Act. However if the child is judged competent, it is the child's consent alone that is legally effective. Subject to any court order restricting parental rights, those who can give consent on behalf of an incapable child are: