Conan Doyle Medical Centre Tel: 0131 666 5160
Portobello Surgery
Tel: 0131 669 8406
Video consultation waiting room. Only for pre-booked appointments
The surgery is open from 8.00 am - 6.00 pm Monday to Friday. Consultations are available throughout the day. We are closed at weekends and most bank Holidays. When we are closed contact NHS 24 on 111.
If you have a serious problem and need advice urgently please tell reception. Times of additional emergency appointments may vary but are generally after the morning and afternoon surgery. You will be offered the next available emergency appointment if you need one. It is not possible to pre-book an emergency time.
We are one of a number of practices in Lothian who are offering GP Surgeries outside normal working hours. The pattern varies a little from week to week, but in general, each week there is one early morning surgery from 7.00 - 8.00 am
The practice will be closed on the following dates:
2021/22
Monday Sept 20th Autumn
Monday Dec 27th Christmas
Tuesday Dec 28th Christmas
Monday Jan 3rd New Year
Tuesday Jan 4th New Year
NHS24 is the access point for out of hours services in Edinburgh City (www.nhs24.com).
NHS24 is responsible for all calls on weekdays from 6.00pm to 8.00am and at weekends from 6.00pm on Friday to 8.00am on Monday.
During these hours you can telephone directly to 111 for advice and help.
In the event of a life threatening emergency telephone 999.
The practice recognises the importance of medical education both within the team and to those undergoing training programmes. These will be our doctors and primary health care workers of the future. For many years we have been committed to this and have reached and maintained the high standards set down for training practices. We always have a number of qualified doctors working at the practice undergoing further training to be General Practitioners and also other medical specialties. We are grateful to our patients for understanding the importance of and supporting us in this.
News
Vaccine drop-in centres for the over 40s will be launched across NHS Lothian as part of the battle against COVID-19.
Clinics will be rolled-out in mass vaccination sites, from Wednesday (June 9), for people aged 40 and over, who require a first or second dose of the Astra Zeneca vaccine.
Anyone over the age of 40, who have not yet had their first dose – for whatever reason – can attend the clinic without an appointment, while those who are waiting for their second dose can turn up as long as they received their first injection of the Astra Zenaca vaccine at least eight weeks before.
The clinics will run at Lowland Hall and Pyramids Vaccination centres from Wednesday through to Sunday (June 13). Starting from June 14, they will run at every centre except Lowland Hall.
People will be seen on a first come first served basis, and the centres will run for 10 hours every day.
NHS Lothian has joined up with the British Armed Forces as part of this key stage to accelerate the programme and provide increased protection for more people as quickly as possible.
A total of 36 Army personnel have been deployed into Lothian to help deliver vaccines across all of the centres.
That extra capacity - which equates to more than 3,500, appointments each day – will allow the vaccination team to target people who have not yet had the vaccine and may also speed up the process for those waiting for a second injection.
Pat Wynne, Nurse Director of Primary and Community Care, NHS Lothian, said the clinics, which will run for two weeks, were an important step.
He added: "This is a really exciting step for us because it means we can reach a lot of people really quickly to help give them some protection, which is obviously vital to help beat new variants and keep people well.
"We are delighted to team up with the British Armed Forces again. Our teams have previously worked with them in two of our vaccination centres and we invited them to return to provide extra capacity across our centres as part of this race. They will join our teams at the routine appointment clinics and in the drop-in clinics."
https://news.nhslothian.scot/Pages/20210608_Dropinclinics.aspx
VAC4COVID - new MEMO study to look at vaccine safety
We would like to let you know about the new VAC4COVID study. The study is funded by the University of Dundee and was launched on the 4th February. The study will recuit anyone over 18 years who is eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine. The study hopes to monitor all aspects of the vaccination process in the wider public. The researchers are looking at ways of maximising recruitment. They have produced a poster and leaflet that are available for use in practices. They hope the poster and leaflets will be read by patients visiting practices for their vaccines or general appointments. The posters and leaflets are available from the network on request. For further information about the study:
BBC website BBC VAC4COVID Coverage or other press and media coverage.
The study website
is VAC4COVID Study Website.
PUBLIC HOLIDAY CLOSURE NOTICE
Please note that Dr. Comiskey & Partners, Conan Doyle MC and Portobello Surgery will be closed for the public holiday on Monday Sept 20th We will re-open on Tuesday the 21st of Sept at 8am. If you require GP assistance during this closure please phone 111.
Before calling your GP Practice please check if any of these healthcare professionals can help on our attached guide – here
Covid - entering our practice
Please remember these three simple rules:
Wear a face covering, Keep your distance. Sanitise your hands
Do not enter our building if you suspect you have any covid symptoms.
Regular testing for people with no COVID-19 symptoms is one of the ways we can all help keep people safe and stop the spread new variants in Edinburgh. Infection rates are high across Edinburgh, so we’re urging people to keep testing, even if they’ve been vaccinated.
People with no COVID-19 symptoms can come along for a test at:
· Assembly Rooms until Saturday 24 July (closed Sunday 18 July)
· Blackhall Library, 56 Hillhouse Road from Monday 19 July to Saturday 24 July
· Queensferry Primary School, Burgess Road, South Queensferry from Monday 19 July to Saturday 24 July
· Mobile testing unit at South East Locality office, Captain’s Road car park until Sunday 25 July
· Mobile testing unit at Craigroyston High School, Pennywell Road until Sunday 25 July
· Mobile testing unit at Wester Hailes Healthy Living Centre, Harvesters Way until Sunday 25 July (9am to 5pm)
· Mobile testing unit at Craigmillar Medical Group, 106 Niddrie Mains Road From Monday 19 July until Saturday 24 July (9.30am to 5.30pm)
· Mobile testing unit James Pringle Shopping Village, 70-74 Bangor Road Friday 16 July to Sunday 25 July. Monday to Saturday 9.30am to 5pm and Sunday 10am to 5pm.
We’re open from 9am to 6pm unless stated above and there’s no need to book. You can also pick up home testing kits from our centres at libraries. Testing is free, fast and safe. It will only take around 15 minutes to take the test and 45 minutes for people to be sent their results.
If you can’t get to the library, you can order free rapid lateral flow test kits online or by phoning the National Testing Centre on 119.
Almost 1 in 3 people infected with Covid-19 don’t have any of the usual symptoms but are potentially passing on the virus unknowingly to family, friends and others in the community. By getting tested people can find out if they are positive and self-isolate at home to stop spreading the virus to others. People who have been vaccinated are also encouraged to take a test as they may still carry the virus.
You can find out more about community testing on our web pages at www.edinburgh.gov.uk/communitytesting
Please can you share this with your contacts in the community and encourage people to come along for testing.
Thank you for your help.
