Clinics

Yearly check up for everyone who takes medication for asthma run by Jacqui Mason (nurse practitioner)

Before you book your review please complete an asthma review form

Regular check up for those with high blood pressure run by the practice we have a number of simple approaches to help you monitor your blood pressure. 

You don't need to come to the surgery to have your blood pressure taken, you can do it at home.

If you would like to take your own measurements find out more on our Self Blood Pressure Monitoring page

Every 2 year check up for people aged 50 to 74.

Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in Scotland after lung and breast cancer. Every year, almost 4000 people are diagnosed.

Screening aims to find bowel cancer at an early stage in people with no symptoms. If detected early there is a 90% chance of treating it successfully.

Please see your GP if you have any abnormal symptoms such as bleeding from your bottom or with your stools, recent persistent change in bowel habit, abdominal pain, weight loss or pallor.

For more information go to the NHS Inform website

Request a bowel screening kit by calling 0800 0121833

Monthly carer drop-in

First Wednesday of every month 9am to 12pm at Penicuik Medical Practice

Do you look after someone? 

Carers provide unpaid care by looking after an ill, frail or disabled family member, friend or partner.

1 in 8 people in Scotland are carers and each carer's situation is unique. You may be caring for someone constantly, perhaps you elderly parent becoming frail, your partner who has developed an illness or your disabled child. Or you may be helping someone out on a regular basis by picking up prescriptions and checking them every day.

You may also be juggling the demands of family life, a job or education with your caring role.

If you are providing unpaid care (whether or not the person you care for is a patient in this practice), please let us know. Being aware of your caring responsibilities helps us to provide a better service to you as a patient and to the person you care for.

We can help

We can help by, for example:

• providing a health check and, if appropriate, an annual flu immunisation to ensure your are as healthy as possible.
• arranging appointments at a time that fits in with your caring responsibilities.
• organising a repeat prescription service direct to your pharmacy.
• providing you with information on ways in which you can access practical and emotional support in your caring role.
• There are an estimated 1.5 million carers in Scotland. Vocal’s Think Carer training can help you feel more confident in identifying and supporting unpaid carers. 

Do you come into contact with unpaid carers?

• Vocal’s free Think Carer training is designed for health, social care and third sector professionals to learn about unpaid caring and how to signpost to relevant support
• Vocal’s Think Carer training explores who is a carer, the impact of caring and the simple ways all professionals can offer support. 

Health and social care staff are ideal partners to sensitively discuss caring and ensure carers know what help and support is available to them.

• Find out how to best support unpaid carers Vocal’s free Think Carer training
• Visit the Vocal website

Social care and support guide

Visit the NHS website for more information

Cervical screening is routinely offered to women and anyone with a cervix in Scotland between the ages of 25 and 64.

Women on non-routine screening (where screening results have shown changes that need further investigation or follow up) will be invited up to 70 years of age.

The cervical screening test (smear test) is designed to check your cervix (neck of the womb) for the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).

If HPV is found, we’ll then look at the same sample for cell changes. HPV causes 99% of all cervical cancers.

Run by a nurse, please book at reception

How is your COPD?

You may have received a text, email or letter from us asking you to let us know how your COPD is doing, or you may have found that your COPD control has changed, and you want to let us know. In either case, please fill our our online form and we can look at the answers and figure the right response to you.

Please remember, if you have urgent concerns about your COPD, you can contact us directly on 01968 672612.

How to use your inhalers

One of the commonest problems for patients is being unsure of how to use their inhalers. There is an excellent video guide on the Asthma UK website on how to use different sorts of inhalers

Inhaler devices are the same for COPD and Asthma, so the video applies to anyone with COPD.

Useful information

• NHS website: Guide to the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and risks of COPD from the NHS
• Asthma and Lung UK: Information and guidance on living with COPD

These links all come from trusted resources but if you are unsure about these or any other medical matters please contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Yearly check up for everyone with diabetes treated with diet or tablets run by Dr Peter Weil (GP), Jacqui Mason, Yvonne Brown (nurse practitioners) and our phlebotomist. 

Please note we share information with SCI DC, a national database. If you don't want us to do this let us know.

Winter flu and covid-19 vaccinations are now available for people who are eligible. It’s strongly recommended you get vaccinated if you’re eligible this winter.

The most up to date information can be found on NHS inform

If you call the surgery, the reception team can book an appointment with our Mental Health Practitioner, Kerry

• Kerry works Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
• Kerry can see you for mild to moderate mental health difficulties.
• Any serious concerns should be delt with via emergency services or MHARS. 

These videos have been produced by Midlothain Mental Health team to help improve patient understanding and access to mental health services across Midlothian. You can access these services without speak to a GP.

• Are you experiencing a mental health issue?
• Midlothian mental health practice nurse service

Are you feeling suicidal and worried that you can't keep yourself safe? Dial 111 to phone NHS 24 and ask for a mental health assessment. 

Support services

• Suicidal ideation: Stay Alive - safety planning and psychoeducation (smartphone app)
• The Midspace support directory can help you find support available for adults living and/or working in Midlothian. 
• NHS Inform: Get help with your mental health
• Scottish Action for Mental Health: Online or telephone mental health and wellbeing support
• Sleepio: A six week clinically proven programme used to treat insomnia
• Worrying About Money
• Self-harm Network Scotland
• Health in Mind
• Juno Perinatal Mental Health Support
• Andy's Man Club
• Women's Aid

Bereavement

• Cruse Scotland: Provides professional support for people who have been bereaved. 
• Petal: Supports people who are affected by murder, culpable homicide and suicide.
• Chris's House: Suicide Awareness

Losing a baby

The loss of a baby, no matter what stage of pregnancy, can have a profound and lasting impact on woman and their families. The Scottish Government recognises this impact and is clear that woman and families who have experienced pregnancy or baby loss, must be provided with the right information, care and supporting taking into account their individual circumstances.

As part of the Scottish Government work to improve miscarriage care we commissioned Tommy's charity to pull together and chair a short life working group to develop comprehensive patient information including updating and extending the NHS Inform miscarriage pages and the delivery of 3 miscarriage patient information leaflets which are available from your GP.

They can also be found here:

• I think I'm having a miscarriage
• Miscarriage: dads and partners
• After a miscarriage
• Losing a baby
• After losing a baby

Further information

• Insomnia 
• Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)
• Low mood and depression

What is minor surgery?

Minor surgery is a clinic held at Penicuik Medical Practice every 2 weeks. The clinic is for removal of excisions of superficial skin lesions and lumps just underneath the skin. This procedure is carried out by Dr Hamish Reid, our GP Partner. We currently have a waiting list of about 6 weeks for these procedures as we accept referrals from all practices in Midlothian. If you have been referred by your GP Practice already, you do not need to complete the below form.

• We offer a minor surgical service for patients of 18 years and over who are capable of consenting to and co-operating with the intended procedure.
• We deal with benign (non cancerous) lesions only. This is not a cosmetic service. Lesions will only be removed if they are causing significant disability or distress e.g. pain, recurrent infection, bleeding, functional problems, recurrent trauma/rubbing and risk of infection) 

Minor surgery referral questionnaire

You will be contacted by the practice to advise next steps.

If you need to cancel an appointment please call reception desk on 01968 672612 and ask for Jane. Please inform us ideally at least 48 hours in advance, so we can offer it to another patient as we do have a waiting list.

We understand if last minute cancellations are required but would like to avoid this where possible.

Advanced physiotherapy practitioners

Every GP practice in Midlothian has an Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioner attached to the practice who you can speak to if you have a muscle, bone or joint problem. They are all highly experienced and can assess and diagnose any musculoskeletal conditions, provide you with an explanation of your condition, appropriate exercises and discuss management options. This may include referral to your local Physiotherapy department for ongoing physiotherapy,  pain management advice, X-ray or referral for a specialist opinion.

They can help with: 

• Muscle, bone or joint pain
• Back pain / Sciatica
• Neck pain / Whiplash
• Joint pain & stiffness including knee/ shoulder, wrist and hand pain and osteoarthritis
• Muscle or tendon pain e.g. tennis elbow, achilles tendon pain
• Sprains or strains e.g. knee / ankle sprain, calf strain
• Weakness / de-conditioning after injury or surgery
• Loss of confidence with movement and physical activity.

You can phone the practice on 01968 672612 and to arrange an appointment with our physiotherapist. Our advanced physiotherapy practitioners are Naomi and Philip.

Children's physiotherapy helpline

East & Midlothian Children’s Physiotherapy Department run a telephone Help Line Service on Mondays and Thursdays between 9am and 11am where parents and professionals can ring the department to discuss any concerns.

To seek advice or to discuss a child with us please phone Musselburgh Primary Care Centre on 0131 446 4144. Monday or Thursday from 9am to 11am.

Discussions are confidential and personal details need not to be shared.  If a request for assistance is advisable you will be asked to complete a written form.

Anyone can ring if you would like to speak to a Physiotherapist for advice.  You do not need to go to your GP or school to access this service.

Further information

• Video about Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioners
• Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioners in General Practice
• Self Help Resources
• NHS Inform

Both men and women need to look after their sexual health and take time to understand the issues that surround contraception and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

For instance there are some STIs, like chlamydia, that you could be carrying without having any symptoms. This infection can affect fertility, so it's important to make use of the sexual health services available for free on the NHS.

Useful links

• HRT Review Form
• Combined Contraception Pill Review
• NHS: Sexual Health
• NHS: Contraception 
• Family Planning Association

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is the most commonly diagnosed sexually transmitted infection among under-25s. Often there are no symptoms, but testing and treatment are simple.

Causes and risk factors Chlamydia is usually passed from one person to another during vaginal, oral or anal sex, or by sharing sex toys. It can live inside cells of the cervix, urethra, rectum and sometimes in the throat and eyes.

Further information is available from the NHS website

Male sexual problems

It's estimated 1 in 10 men has a problem related to having sex, such as premature ejaculation or erectile dysfunction.

Sexual problems can affect any man, whether he is straight, gay, bisexual or transgender.

Yearly check up and blood test for everyone on medication for thyroid problems run by our phlebotomists

Checks for everyone who takes Warfarin run by Jacqui Mason (nurse practitioner) and our phlebotomists