Student Services

Routine Health Checks

Please note that routine health checks in an otherwise well young individual are not required. However, if you have any relevant family history, or are aged over 40, then you might benefit from a non-urgent assessment at the surgery.

Contraception

All prescriptions for contraception are free.

The practice provides short-acting and long-acting contraception, including the contraceptive injection and contraceptive implant. (This excludes the Intra-uterine devices (IUDs) and Intra-uterine system (IUS) which are available at Chalmers Sexual Health Centre.) Online: www.lothiansexualhealth.scot/

The C-Card service is available at the Students Association. It offers free condoms and information on sexual health.

Emergency Contraception, taken after unprotected sexual intercourse must be started within 72 hours but is most effective if taken within 24 hours.

You may contact:

Local pharmacies

The Practice – 0131 451 3010

 or NHS 24 (when we are closed) on 111

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Advice and treatment are available from the Practice, including HIV testing, by appointment with a doctor. You may prefer to attend the Chalmers Sexual Health Centre 2a Chalmers Street Edinburgh.

For appointments, information and advice telephone or visit website as below:

• 0131 536 1070
• www.lothiansexualhealth.scot.nhs.uk 

Counselling

Study and exam pressure, relationship problems, loneliness and bereavement can cause great anxiety and distress. If you are worried about yourself or a friend, there are many services available to help:

• The student counsellors at the Student Wellbeing Service - https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/students/health-wellbeing/edinburgh/wellbeing-services.htm
• Your Doctor
• Your School mentor
• The Chaplain
• Other Counselling Agencies Nightline – 0131 557 4444 (run by students for students) Samaritans – 0131 221 9999

Smoking Cessation

Please ask at the Practice for further information.

NHS Lothian provide a local Stop Smoking Support Service to help those wishing to stop smoking. The telephone number for Quit Your Way South Edinburgh is 0131 537 7154 or you can email smokefreeSouthedin@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk.

Dentist

You should see a Dentist about problems relating to you teeth or mouth. Riccarton Dental Practice is located within the Health Centre at Heriot Watt University. You can also find your local Dentist by entering your postcode at

https://www.nhsinform.scot/scotlands-service-directory/dental-services

Optician

For problems relating to your eyes, patients are advised to see an Optician. You should contact them urgently if you have blurring of vision or pain in your eye. You can find you local Optician by entering your postcode at https://www.nhsinform.scot/scotlands-service-directory/Opticians

Physiotherapy

The Practice has a visiting private Physiotherapist. Fees and appointment details available at our reception. 

Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership has re-introduced MSK ADULT PHYSIOTHERAPY self-referral for Edinburgh patients.  As with previous local self referral system the guidelines are:

• Self referral is  ROUTINE out-patients physiotherapy appointment only
• They can only accept referrals from patients from Edinburgh GP Practices
• People can refer themselves for ONE problem only
• As before, home visits can only be arranged with a GP referral
• Please note that only adults 16 years of age or over can self-refer

For continence problems and walking aid referrals, Please use a separate self-referral form which can be accessed at the same link below.

Collars, wrist splints, knee braces, maternity belts etc cannot be routinely provided.

You will need to complete and send a self-referral form. Completed forms to be sent to:

Physiotherapy Department

Slateford Medical Centre

27 Gorgie Park Close

Edinburgh

EH14 1NQ

If your referral is not suitable for physiotherapy we will contact you to let you know. For advice and self-care information that can help muscle and joint problems, visit www.nhsinform.co.uk

NHS Physio Self Referral Form

Podiatry

The Practice has a visiting private Podiatrist. Fees and appointment details available at our reception. Alternatively for problems related to your feet you can self refer to an NHS Podiatrist by filling out a form which you can download from the NHS Podiatry website Podiatry – NHS Lothian | Our Services or a copy is available from our reception desk. You can do this without seeing your GP.

Sickness Certification / Mitigating Circumstances

Sickness Certification may be required by academic departments if a student’s attendance or examination performance is affected. For absences of 4 days or less, students may self-certify on appropriate forms obtained from their School/Institute or downloadable HERE

For absences in excess of this period, or where academic performance is likely to be adversely affected, students should request certification at a consultation in the course of the illness.

Request for Certificate

Click here to see policy on Mitigating Circumstances

Student Request For Medical Evidence / Mitigating Circumstances Letter

The University Health Service receives many requests for letters confirming illness or mitigating circumstances. Unfortunately, we cannot always provide these.

Please note that we can only provide letters if:

1. The doctor can confirm on the basis of prior documentary medical evidence (eg previous practice consultations, admissions to hospital, clinic appointments etc.)
2. The doctor can confirm on the basis of current objective clinical signs (and not just self-reported symptoms).

Please consider this before completing and submitting a request for certification form (as above). The University’s Mitigating Circumstances Policy is available from the University’s website www.hw.ac.uk.

Retrospective certificates will not be issued.

Travel Vaccinations & Immunisation

The delivery of travel vaccines in Scotland has changed and is moving away from General Practice. As of the 1^st April 2022, travel vaccinations will now be delivered by individual Health Boards. NHS Lothian Travel Clinic Hub is situated at the Western General Hospital, Edinburgh.  Patients are strongly advised to visit

Home - Fit for Travel for information and advice.

Details for the Lothian Travel Clinic Hub:

NHS Lothian Travel Clinic Hub – Travel Clinics

It is up to the individual travelling to find out restrictions/entry requirements of the countries they are visiting.  This includes obtaining any certification with regards to Covid vaccinations and status.

Useful website:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-travel-and-transport/

For advice and information on travel health please visit Fit for Travel website.

If you require any vaccinations relating to foreign travel you need to make an appointment with the practice nurse to discuss your travel arrangements. This will include which countries and areas within countries that you are visiting to determine what vaccinations are required.

There is further information about countries and vaccinations required on the links below: 

Europe & Russia	North America
Central America	South America
Caribbean	Africa
Middle East	Central Asia
East Asia	Australasia and Pacific

It is important to make the initial appointment as early as possible - at least 6 weeks before you travel - as a second appointment will be required with the practice nurse to actually receive the vaccinations. These vaccines have to be ordered as they are not a stock vaccine. Your second appointment needs to be at least 2 weeks before you travel to allow the vaccines to work.

Some travel vaccines are ordered on a private prescription and these incur a charge over and above the normal prescription charge. This is because not all travel vaccinations are included in the services provided by the NHS.

Travelling in Europe

If you are travelling to Europe the EU has published useful information for travellers on the European website.

Non-NHS Services

Some services you may require are not covered by the National Health Service and a charge will be levied for those as recommended by the British Medical Association.

Private Fees from Oct 2024