Patient Notice
To allow us to respect your privacy, we kindly ask that all requests for appointments are made by phoning the Practice.
Choose the Right Service
Many health care problems do not need a doctor or nurse. Other professionals such as pharmacists, opticians and dentists may be better placed to help.
Conditions your pharmacy can advise you about
Your pharmacist can advise you about conditions such as:
Acne
Allergies
Athlete’s foot
Backache
Blocked or runny nose
Cold sores
Constipation
Cough
Cystitis (in women)
Diarrhoea
Earache
Eczema
Headache
Headlice
Haemorrhoids (piles)
Hay fever
Impetigo
Indigestion
Mouth ulcers
Pain
Period pain
Shingles
Some skin conditions such as cellulitis or insect bites
Sore throat
Threadworms
Thrush
Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
Verrucas
Warts
Our Appointments System
We offer routine bookable face to face as well phone advice appointments. Please book a face-to-face appointment if a physical examination is required.
To request a routine appointment :
- Phone us between 10:30am to 11:00am and 1:00pm to 5:00pm
Our consultation guide provides helpful information.
Triage
As well as routine appointments, we offer a triage system which provides a finite number of GP and ANP telephone call-backs. If the GP or ANP requires to examine you, they will ask you to come to the Practice. Please be available for the call back at all times throughout the day.
Reception staff will use the information you give us to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or health professional to help you. They are bound by the same rules of confidentiality as our clinicians and they have no interest in your medical condition other than to direct you to the most appropriate member of the clinical team.
When “on the day” capacity triage slots are full and depending on the nature of the problem, the duty doctor will assess and may ask the receptionist to advise the patient to call back the following day.
We will not accept requests for triage appointments before 8:30am
Urgent Medical Problems
Access the online appointment system
We are aware how challenging it can be to obtain a GP appointment. To try and ease the burden on the phones, we have a small number of bookable online GP appointments via our online system, Patient Access.
Login for Online Services Register for Online ServicesPlease note, this service is for patients aged 16+
Extended Hours
The Practice offers pre-bookable appointments with doctors and nurses between 7:30am to 8:30am at Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay Surgeries.
Please be aware that there is limited availability of these appointments therefore we kindly ask that those who are able to attend during normal surgery hours do not request these appointments.
Appointments for the extended access service are booked by calling the surgery reception.
Cancelling or changing an appointment
If you are unable to keep your appointment to see the Doctor or the Practice Nurse, please let us know as soon as possible as this can be used as an appointment for someone else.
Non attendance deprives other patients of essential medical services. Approximately 300 appointments are being wasted on a monthly basis due to this. These appointments could have been for other patients and bring our appointment waiting times down.
How to cancel your appointment:
- using the GP online system – Patient Access
- using our online cancel an appointment form
- phone us during opening hours
- reply CANCEL to your appointment reminder text message
- If you are late for an appointment you may be asked to re-book.
Find out more about the Charter of Patient Rights and Responsibilities on NHS inform.
Home visits
If you are housebound and need an appointment, we will do a home visit. We will phone you first to understand what you need.
To request a home visit, it’s helpful if you phone the practice before 10:00am
Home visits are reserved for the following groups of patients.
- those too unwell to attend the surgery
- those who are at end of life care
- patients who cannot leave the house for any reason
Please download or view our patient Information leaflet.
Your appointment
However you choose to contact us, we may offer you a consultation:
- by phone
- face to face at the surgery
Appointments by phone can be more flexible and often means you get help sooner. One appointment – one patient. Always make sure that staff are aware that you are in the waiting room and please arrive on time for your appointment.
If you need help with your appointment
Please tell us:
- if there’s a specific doctor, nurse or other health professional you would prefer to respond
- if you would prefer to consult with the doctor or nurse by phone, or by face-to-face
- if you need an interpreter- the Practice has access to the services of interpreters of various languages as well as British Sign Language interpreters. Ask at reception or contact 01592 729130 for more details
- if you have any other access or communication needs
- help with transport to attend appointments – if you have difficulty using public transport to attend for your appointment, the RVS can arrange transport to your appointment. (A mileage charge is payable for this transport). Phone 01592 269654 to book transport.
Virtual Group Consultations (VGC)
Patients can highlight what matters to them about their condition and receive the relevant support to overcome any challenges from their condition. VGCs offer an opportunity to receive a high standard of personalised care and last approximately 90 minutes.
Patients will be sent an invitation letter with instructions on how to join the virtual group consultation appointment.
CGC Patients FAQ
Inverkeithing Medical Group – Failure to attend appointments
If you are unable to keep your appointment, please cancel it.
Non attendance deprives other patients of essential medical services. Approximately 300 appointments are being wasted on a monthly basis due to this. These appointments could have been for other patients and bring our appointment waiting times down.
Practice Policy for Failure to Attend
Patients who consistently fail to attend booked appointments made either by themselves or a GP will be sent a DNA (Did not attend) letter, reminding them that in future they must cancel appointments no longer needed.
We may consider asking patients who consistently fail to keep their appointments to register with another practice. To avoid being sent a DNA letter please ensure you cancel appointments no longer needed.
If you need help when we are closed
The 111 service provides urgent care information and support if you think you need A&E but its not life-threatening, and advice when your GP, pharmacy or dental practice is closed.
Call 999 in a medical or mental health emergency. This is when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.
When to call 999
You should only call 999 in a medical emergency, when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.
- Emergencies can include:
- Loss of consciousness
- Cardiac arrest
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- An acute confused state
- Chest pains
- Breathing difficulties
- Severe bleeding that cannot be stopped
- Severe allergic reactions
- Severe burns or scalds
- Major trauma, such as a road traffic accident or fall from a height.
If you are unsure if it is an emergency, call NHS 24 on 111.
What happens when you call 999
An operator will ask which emergency service you need. If it’s a medical emergency, ask for the ambulance service. The ambulance service will ask some questions to find out what has happened and arrange the most appropriate help.
Further information is available on the Scottish Ambulance Service website.
By only calling 999 for serious illnesses or injuries, it means that people who need essential treatment can get it as soon as possible.
Consultations 16 to 75
If a patient aged between 16 and 75 years has not had a practice consultation within a period of three years, we are happy, on request, to provide a consultation.
Surgery abroad without NHS referral
Surgical options in Scotland can appear more expensive. But you should think about the potential savings against the potential risks of travelling for surgery. If you still wish to do this, be aware that NHS Scotland is under no obligation to provide pre and post-operative care other than emergency care.
Additional information about your appointment with us
Can I bring someone to accompany me to the Appointment?
We are generally very happy for patients to bring with them a carer, relative or even a friend. This often helps, particularly when they know you well and it allows them to tell us any observations they would make about you, which can help us in undertaking our assessment. Ultimately this will lead us more quickly to make an accurate diagnosis and therefore help you more.
Also, having someone with you means they can prompt you to ask questions that you may have forgotten, and after the appointment they can help in reminding you what was discussed.
Occasionally we might ask for them to leave but this would be unusual.
If you require interpretation services please contact us in advance of you appointment and we will arrange this.
Chaperone Policy
We will always respect your privacy, dignity and your religious and cultural beliefs particularly when intimate examinations are advisable – these will only be carried out with your express agreement and you will be offered a chaperone to attend the examination if you so wish.
You may also request a chaperone when making the appointment or on arrival at the surgery (please let the receptionist know) or at any time during the consultation.
Giving Consent for Treatment
You have the right to accept or refuse treatment that is offered to you, and not to be given any physical examination or treatment unless you have given valid consent. If you do not have the capacity to do so, consent must be obtained from a person legally able to act on your behalf, or the treatment must be in your best interests.
Your valid consent (agreement to the course of action) is needed for the treatment that’s offered to you before any physical examinations or treatment can be given. If you haven’t given your consent, you can accept or refuse treatment that’s offered to you.
It’s important to be involved in decisions about your treatment and to be given information to help you choose the right treatment. When making treatment choices, you’ll often discuss the options with your doctor or another healthcare professional.
If you have a suspected infectious disease
Please inform reception if you suspect an infectious disease, as this will enable us to deal with it appropriately during your visit to protect you, other patients and staff.
Interpreter
If you require an interpreter to attend with you when you see your Doctor please notify the receptionist and this will be arranged.
Intimate Examinations
During your care, a doctor may need to examine you in order to provide you with the best care. Occasionally this may involve an examination of intimate areas. We understand that this can be stressful and embarrassing. If this sort of examination is necessary:
- We will explain to you why the examination is necessary and give you the opportunity to ask questions.
- We will explain what the examination will involve, including whether you can expect it to be painful or uncomfortable.
- We will obtain your permission before carrying out this examination You will be offered a chaperone.
- At all times we will respect your privacy during the examination and while dressing and undressing.
Your doctor and the nursing staff will be happy to discuss any concerns you have about this.
Private Medical Examinations
Medical examinations for special purposes such as pre-employment, fitness to travel, elderly drivers, fitness to undertake sports etc, will require longer than a routine appointment.
These examinations do not form part of NHS Services, you will be charged for any such examination. Please check the fee chargeable when you require to arrange any such examination.