Garthdee Medical Group - The clinics and other services offered by our doctors surgery

Clinics & Services

All GP practices are contracted to provide 'essential services', that is, basic treatment of ill people. We also provide the following 'additional services' that are detailed below.

Cervical Screening

Our practice nurse provides this service; appointments can be made for this by calling the main surgery number.

The cervical smear test is a screening test which checks to see if the cells that make up the surface of the neck of your womb (cervix) are normal. It aims to identify any abnormalities, which can be simply and effectively treated.

In order to check that no abnormalities have occurred since your last smear, it is important to have regular smear tests. This is an effective method of identifying any abnormal changes in the cells, which are present at the time you have the test. In the UK, the smear test saves over 1,000 lives every year and has prevented 8 out of 10 cervical cancers developing. However, it cannot prevent all cases.

All women between 25 and 64 years of age, who have had sex, need regular cervical smears.

In Scotland women aged 25 - 49 are routinely invited to have a smear every three years, and women aged 50 - 64 are routinely invited to have a smear every five years. If it is more than three/five (dependant on age) years since you last had a smear and you have not received a recent invitation please contact us. Remember, it is still important to see a doctor as soon as possible any time you have any unusual discharge or bleeding, including bleeding after sex, between periods or after the menopause.

The practice would encourage you to attend for a cervical smear when invited, however if you wish to opt out you must complete our Smear Refusal Form downloadable HERE. If you change your mind you can attend for a smear at any time and you will be sent a letter of invitation every three years.

Child Health Surveillance and Immunisation

This is provided by a combination of GPs and our Health Visiting team.

Immunisations are no longer carried out at the practice, but instead you will be contacted by the Child Immunisation team directly.

Family Planning

All the doctors offer contraceptive advice and treatment. As with all aspects of GP care this is offered in the strictest confidence.

Part of our service is emergency contraception and this includes the "morning after" pill. Up to 5 days after unprotected sex you can obtain emergency contraception to prevent a pregnancy.

This treatment is much more effective if started within 72 hours.

Minor Surgery Services

We can provide some minor surgery procedures to our patients in a specific minor surgery clinic.

Pre Pregnancy Advice

If you are thinking of pregnancy, we are happy to discuss promoting a healthy mother and baby even before you become pregnant. Please make an appointment if you would like some advice on this.

We also offer antenatal care in conjunction with the Community Midwives and the local Maternity Hospital. We perform postnatal examinations at 8 weeks after delivery.

Enhanced Services

We also hold contracts with NHS Grampian for the following 'enhanced services':

Regular monitoring, by blood and urine tests, for patients on a range of drugs for arthritis and bowel problems.
Annual comprehensive reviews for patients with Coronary Heart Disease, Diabetes, Hypertension, Asthma, Stroke, Epilepsy, Cancer, Mental Health Illness, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Hypothyroidism.
A methadone substitution programme for patients with drug abuse problems.

A more detailed list of primary medical services in the area can be found on the NHS Grampian website www.nhsgrampian.org or by calling 08454 566 000.

Specialist Clinics

We offer Asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Hypertension and Healthy Heart clinics run by our Practice nurses, health visitors and pharmacists. There is also a doctor led Diabetic Team, running specialist diabetic clinics every week.

Garthdee Medical Group Diabetic Care during COVID 19

Whatever Tier level in Aberdeen, we have to consider keeping the risk of COVID-19 transmission as low as possible, but we know you need information and support to look after your diabetes. We have made changes have over the year to try and keep things running and reduce footfall within the surgery.

We realise that we are all being asked to use digital media (computers etc) a lot more and if you are struggling with this, please contact AbilityNet as they can offer you support and assistance. Further information is available elsewhere on our website or you can click on this link https://abilitynet.org.uk/

Garthdee Clinics

These continue to be run on a Tuesday morning by our Diabetic Administrator Mrs Cowie for our clinical team of Dr Davey and Diabetic Specialist Nurse J King. Our appointments are now by telephone, face to face or ‘Near-Me’ video. If you would like to use video so you can see your clinician but are not sure how to do this, you can ask for a link to be sent to you by Mrs Cowie.

You will still need to attend for a single appointment with our Practice Nursing team for collection of all the information we need to assess your diabetes. This includes BP, weight, a first pass urine and taking blood (this does not need to be a fasting specimen). Ideally this appointment should be at least a week before your Diabetic Clinic appointment so that all the results are through in time for your clinic discussion. If you require foot screening, this appointment will be changed to a 20 minute appointment with the Practice Nurse.

If you need to share blood sugar results and dietary information at your Diabetic review, please use e-consult to send in your sheets. This is more secure and files more easily and quickly at the practice.

You can see your results before you have your clinic appointment by registering for MyDiabetesMyWay and getting your personal login. This is particularly helpful for you to think about what you would like to discuss and also now we are no longer sitting around the same computer screen.

https://www.mydiabetesmyway.scot.nhs.uk/

Retinal Screening

Recent data has shown that screening rates can be altered depending on your level of risk. Please click here https://www.nhsgrampiandiabetes.scot.nhs.uk/retinal-screening/ to see the updated Retinal Screening Recall Programme. It is very important that you attend when called. If you have any problems with your eyesight you should attend your optician as Retinal screening is very specific to a particular problem with the back of the eye.

Diabetic information is available at our Grampian website:

https://www.nhsgrampiandiabetes.scot.nhs.uk/

JH 22.1.21

Please note GP Practices are no longer able to offer Travel Vaccinations.

Travelling Abroad?

For all your travel health information please visit https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/home

If you need travel vaccinations for your next holiday, you can get these from a network of pharmacists in Grampian.

All the information you need is at www.grampianvax.com/travel-vaccination

Some travel vaccinations are free on the NHS - diphtheria, tetanus, polio, typhoid, hepatitis A, cholera - but you must make an appointment SIX weeks before you travel to be eligible. Other travel vaccinations will come with a fee; the pharmacist will let you know what this is.

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Fear of flying

Garthdee Medical Group would advise against taking Benzodiazepines for Fear of Flying. See leaflet above for further information.

University Students

Many students coming to Aberdeen are away from home for the first time, and some will be in a foreign country. Parents have often looked after any health care needs, and suddenly students need to look after themselves. You are entitled to register with a GP under the National Health Service for all medical services. It is important to arrange registration with a GP on arrival in Aberdeen to ensure you are covered in an emergency. Students who have long-term conditions, for example asthma, epilepsy or diabetes are encouraged to attend the GP Practice they register with on arrival in Aberdeen. This provides an opportunity to discuss continued treatment and management of diagnosed conditions.

For those students attending RGU, the university has implemented a self-certification process to accommodate situations arising from COVID 19. These relate to both absences and assessments. The relevant forms have been made available to all students and are available at https://www.rgu.ac.uk/coronavirus-guidance this includes a FAQ Section.

Registration

You can register with any medical practice, but if you are looking at this website you may be considering Garthdee Medical Group. We are associated with The Robert Gordon University and are located on the Garthdee campus.

We only accept patients who reside within the practice boundary or with no alternative GP closer to your home address. Current guidance also states that if you are already registered with another GP practice in the area, then you cannot move GP Practices at present. If you are unsure and wish to check whether you can register and have moved into student accommodation, please refer to the Student Hall's of residence guide here or please contact us on 01224 208312.

If you wish to register with Garthdee Medical Group, you will need to complete our registration forms. You can download these on our registration page. Please also see the useful forms below for downloading and complete and return any additional forms which is applicable to you.

They are also available at reception. Please return completed forms in person to the practice, and we will advise you whether you need to make an appointment.

If during the course of your studies you change your address (or any contact details), you must inform the practice as soon as possible so that our records are accurate. This can be done in person, or by posting us the change details form [downloadable HERE]. Failure to do so may result in your name being removed from the practice list. Please note that if your new address is outside our practice boundary you will be advised to change practice.

Students are required to update their contact details at the practice at the end of the term to ensure that their registration remains current.

General Advice

If you have any medical problems or worries you can obtain advice from the surgery once you are registered. Consultations are by appointment only, we also have telephone consultations. Advice can also be obtained from NHS 24 either by using the website for self-help or by phoning 01224 655 555.

Contraceptive advice and prescriptions are available by seeing your GP or from the Family Planning Clinic at:

Aberdeen Community Health & Care Village,

50 Frederick Street,

Aberdeen, AB24 5HY

Tel: 01224 655 555

If you are worried about sexually transmitted infections please arrange an appointment either with your GP or at the Genito Urinary Medical (GUM) Clinic . Tel: 0345 337 9900.

You can seek help with personal worries or stress by contacting the Student Counselling Centre and arranging to speak in confidence with a counsellor. Tel: 01224 262120 or email: counselling@rgu.ac.uk

If you become unwell whilst away from Aberdeen, you can be seen by a local medical practice as a temporary resident. This is also what you should do if at home during vacations.

Sick Lines

During the time you spend at university you may experience an episode of illness. This may impact on your ability to attend lectures, tutorials or complete some of your course work. The university has procedures in place to offer you help and support and you should make yourself familiar with these.

If you are requested to complete a medical evidence support form, this can be obtained from the practice or downloaded below.

Normally there will be a fee for providing written evidence.

RGU Medical Evidence Request Form

If you are in employment where you are entitled to Statutory Sick Pay, a Med 3 form may be required by your employer after 7 days of continual absence.

Important Notice for Female Students

All female patients registered with the practice age 25-64 will be sent a letter on behalf of the practice from Practitioner Services, inviting them to attend the surgery to have a cervical smear performed every 3 or 5 years depending on age.

The Practice would encourage you to have this screening but you have the right to opt out. Should you decide not to have a smear performed the practice requires written notification that you do not wish to participate in screening.

It is extremely important that you respond to this letter (either to make an appointment or opt out) as failure to do so may result in practitioner services removing your name from the practice list.

Useful Forms for Downloading

Important Notice for New Patients

Smear Refusal - Opt Out Form

Change of Address Form

Student Fastalc and Smoking Status

Useful Numbers

Asthma Opt Out

Diabetic Opt Out

Student Halls of Residence

Non-NHS Services

Some services provided are not covered under our contract with the NHS and therefore attract charges. Examples include the following:

Medicals for pre-employment, sports and driving requirements (HGV, PSV etc.)
Insurance claim forms
Prescriptions for taking medication abroad
Private sick notes
Vaccination certificates

If you require a medical for employment, driving etc. the receptionist will arrange a 30 minute appointment.

The fees charged are based on the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested scales and our reception staff will be happy to advise you about them along with appointment availability.

Test Results

Please telephone the results line on 01224 551656 between 11:00 and 16:00 for the results of tests.

Patients are reminded that hospital reports and results of tests can take up to 2 weeks to reach the Practice. Some results can take longer and the doctor or nurse will usually have advised you of this at the time that the test was undertaken. If the result is normal the receptionist will tell you but if any more information is required she will pass your call on to one of the GPs or she will arrange for a GP to call you back.

If you wish to discuss the result with the doctor then please make an appointment.

You will be advised in writing of any normal/abnormal cervical smear results and of the action that needs to be taken.

The practice has a strict policy regarding confidentiality and data protection. We will only release test results to the person to whom they relate unless that person has given prior permission for the release of the results or they are not capable of understanding the results.

Aberdeen City Vaccination & Wellbeing Hub

The hub is located on the Ground Floor of the Bon Accord Centre and hosts a cross sector of health, social care, voluntary organisations & community partners collaborating to provide health & wellbeing support. The newsletter provides details of services and activities being provided at the Hub and a diary of community partners visiting each day to promote their services and support. You do not need an appointment - just walk in to pick up some information or speak to a member of the team. This also includes QR codes with links to our community partners pages that are visiting this month.

For more information, please click on the link to the March Newsletter below:

What's on this month - March