Howden Health Centre

This year, Howden remains open on the Friday and Monday Easter public holidays. We will be available for urgent health issues only between 8am and 6pm each day.
Call us if you have any urgent concerns. Remember, NHS Inform remains your first point of information regarding COVID-19 illness.

NHS Lothian has released a new service called NHS Near Me, which has been made available to all practices this month. This is a new video consultation service which offers an alternative to telephone consultations.
To access this service, you can use a video enabled computer, tablet, or smartphone with access to the internet. You must book a video consultation by telephone with reception at the health centre in advance.
More details about the service can be found at https://w...ww.nearme.scot
We recommend you test your connection 15 minutes before the appointment time. The clinician (GP or nurse) will connect to you from their computer via a secure connection and start your consultation.
Howden's waiting room may be accessed at https://nhsattend.vc/78255
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https://www.facebook.com/Channel4News/vid eos/2508776909375533/ NHS Lothian are part of the new service for supporting patients with symptoms of COVID-19. NHS Inform provides advice regarding the cornavirus pandemic https://www.nhsinform.scot/ŌĆ”/infectionŌ Ć”/coronavirus-covid-19. If your symptoms are worsening or severe, you can access further assistance via NHS24 by phoning 111.

Changes to Access as a result of COVID-19.
Howden is currently restricting access for the safety of all patients and staff.
The practice remains open for all essential primary care problems, but on the advice of Health Protection Scotland we have put in place a process whereby everyone is screened by telephone prior to being seen.
... This means we will conduct all consultations with healthcare professionals by telephone or video link as much as possible. This is to reduce the possible exposure of patients and staff to COVID-19 which is circulating in the community.
All patients will still have access to the care they require. Less urgent telephone or video appointments will be available to book up to 1 week in advance. Any urgent care needs will be passed to our duty team of clinicians for further assessment and action.
If a face-to-face assessment is considered essential by a healthcare professional, we will arrange this at a time and place where it is safe to do so.
To allow the Howden team to focus on essential primary care problems, we will suspend routine healthcare activities until further notice. Routine reviews, screening tests, administrative activities, etc, will be postponed until a later date.
Prescriptions will be sent to your nominated local pharmacy where possible, and medical certificates will be posted out to you. These measures will avoid the need for you to use the reception area in the health centre.
We appreciate your patience and understanding at this time.
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If you've developed a continuous cough or fever/high temperature in the last 7 days, stay at home for 7 days from the day your symptoms started.
Only phone your GP if your symptoms are severe. If your GP is closed, phone NHS 24 (111).
If anyone in your household has developed a cough or fever in the last seven days, you should self-isolate for 14 days.
... Please check www.nhsinform.scot for more information. Visit www.nhsinform.scot for the latest coronavirus advice or phone 0800 028 2816
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https://www.nhsinform.scot/coronavirus

Howden Medical Group Practice is introducing a text messaging service to mobile phone numbers. Please ask our Administration Team for more information.
The launch date for this new service is Thursday 19 December 2019.
We will use text messaging to contact you for the following:
... 1. Reminding you about your booked face to face and telephone consultation
2. Giving you general information about the Practice
3. Cancellation at short notice of face to face and telephone consultation due to circumstances outwith the control of the Practice
Confidentiality
Text messages are sent using a secure facility, however as they are transmitted over a public network onto a personal phone, this may not be secure. The Practice will not transmit any information which would enable an individual patient to be identified.
Text messages will be sent if you are aged 12 and over. It is your responsibility to advise the Practice if your mobile number changes or if you no longer wish to receive the text reminders.
Timing of Out-bound Texts
Routine Consultations
A reminder for routine face to face and telephone consultations will be sent out approximately 24 hours prior to the planned consultation time. Face to Face and telephone consultation can be cancelled via return text up to 1 hour prior to the appointment time. If you require to cancel outwith this time please contact the Practice as soon as possible. This will release the appointment for booking.
Acute Illness Consultations
A reminder for acute illness face to face appointments and telephone consultations will be sent once the appointment has been booked. Acute Illness consultation will be able to be cancelled via return text up to the appointment time. Text messages will be sent within the hours of 8.30am to 6.00pm Monday to Thursday and Sunday.
Format of Text
The text message sent from the Practice will display the name of the Practice and the date and time of your consultation.
We hope that you find this service helpful, however if you have any concerns please let us know.
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ŌĆ£What matters to you? Day
ŌĆ£What matters to you? Day on Thursday 6 June 2019
Will you join the conversation?
... ŌĆ£What matters to you? Day is a Scotland wide campaign to encourage and support more meaningful conversations between people who provide health and social care and the people, families and carers who receive health and social care.
The day provides an opportunity for the Practice to raise the profile of person-centred conversations. We would like to know what matters to you as a person in relation to the healthcare service that we provide. What is important to you?
The event will take place from 3rd to 7th of June, 9.30 am to 12.30pm. Light refreshments provided!
Who will be available to speak with you?
Members of the Howden Medical Group Practice and the Patient Participation Group.
Why are we doing this?
We hope that participation in this day will be helpful in developing relationships and providing an understanding of what you ŌĆ£our patientŌĆØ would like to prioritise. The extent to which our care is effective and person centred depends upon understanding what is important to you and it is therefore vital that we ask you.
What should you do?
Let us know what matters to you ŌĆō be it big or small. Knowing more about your needs will help inform us to plan and deliver our service in partnership with you.
For more information about ŌĆ£What matters to you?ŌĆØ visit www.whatmatterstoyou.scot
We hope that you can join us on the day
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Introducing our new GP Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioner Service
What does the service do?
The GP APP service within the Practice provides physiotherapy assessment and diagnosis for patients affected by joint, bone and muscle problems. Patients can make appointments direct with the Physiotherapist without seeing the Doctor first.
... Who will I be seen by?
You will be seen by one of the two GP Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioners attached to the Practice. The Practice offers face to face appointments (20 minutes) or telephone consultations (10 minutes). Appointments/Consultations commence on 23/5/19 and are on a Thursday afternoon and a Friday morning.
What will happen at the appointment?
The GP APP will: ŌĆó Assess you and diagnose what is happening ŌĆó Give expert advice on how best to manage your condition ŌĆó Refer you on to specialist services if necessary (Orthopaedics, Xray, Hospital Physiotherapists).
What might the appointment involve?
Following your assessment the GP APP will discuss a treatment plan with you, this might involve: ŌĆó An exercise and self care programme for you to follow at home ŌĆó Attendance at physiotherapy ŌĆó Advice to attend a suitable exercise class. ŌĆó Direction to suitable websites
Special requirements
If you require communication assistance (Translator or Interpreter) please inform the Reception Staff when making the appointment.
To make an appointment
Telephone the Practice on 01506 423800. The Receptionist will ask some questions related to your symptoms and if appropriate offer an appointment with the GP APP.
What happens if I am unable to attend my appointment?
If you are unable to keep your appointment please contact the Practice to cancel and rearrange. This will allow another patient to be seen.
What is this service suitable for?
ŌĆó All soft tissue injuries, sprains, strains and sports injuries ŌĆó Arthritis ŌĆó Spinal pain, neck, mid or low back pain ŌĆó All joint pains, hips, knees, shoulders etc ŌĆó Trapped nerves/sciatica ŌĆó Mobility problems ŌĆó General weakness after illness/surgery.
What is the service not suitable for?
ŌĆó Anyone under 16 years of age ŌĆó WomenŌĆÖs health, antenatal/postnatal ŌĆó Housebound patients ŌĆó Medication reviews ŌĆó Neurology conditions ŌĆó Respiratory conditions ŌĆó Headaches ŌĆó Acute mental health crises ŌĆó Medical management of rheumatoid conditions.
What should I wear/bring with me?
Please wear loose comfortable clothing. The GP APP may ask you to undress to examine you. If you have leg or back problems please bring shorts or a loose fitting skirt.
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Howden will be closed for the Mayday holiday on Monday the 6th of May 2019.
The practice will be open up until 6pm on Friday the 3rd of May, and will reopen on Tuesday the 7th of May at 8.30am for business as usual.
If you require help with any urgent medical problem which cannot wait until we reopen on Tuesday, please call NHS 24 on 111. More details about the NHS24 service can be found at https://www.nhs24.scot

Howden will be closed over the Easter public holidays. We will remain open until 6pm on Thursday the 18th of April, and will reopen on Tuesday the 23rd of April at 8.30am.
If you have any urgent health issues over this weekend, you can contact NHS24 as usual on 111.

Our latest practice newsletter is now available from the Health Centre, and on our website. Follow the link below to read more... http://www.howdenmedical.co.uk/ŌĆ”/Howden -Newsletter-Edition-ŌĆ”

The festive season is fast approaching, but the practice will still be open for business as usual on either side the public holidays...
We will be open 8.30am to 6pm on Monday the 24th, Thursday the 27th, Friday the 28th, and Monday the 31st of December. We will return to normal opening from Thursday the 3rd of January 2019 onwards.
On the public holidays and weekends NHS 24 and Lothian Unscheduled Care service (LUCS) will be available for emergency care as usual.

Welcome to the Howden Medical Group Facebook Page.
From humble beginnings with a few single handed GPs working from converted houses in Ladywell and Howden in the 1970s, Howden Medical Group is now a large Primary Care Team based in a purpose built community health centre.
Just as medical knowledge has advanced over the past 50 years, the manner and form in which we deliver care has had to evolve to keep pace with increasing demand and expectations from our patients.
... Our clinical team includes 6 GPs, 2 doctors in training, 2 Acute Illness Practitioners, 3 Practice Nurses, 2 Health Care Assistants, a Phlebotomist, and an in-house Pharmacist. Our clinical services are supported by our Administration Team lead by our Practice Manager.
We work closely with several other community based teams at the Health Centre, including District Nurses, Health Visitors, Midwives, and Podiatrists. The Health Centre is also home to an independent community pharmacy.
Our current patient population is around 12,500, and has been stable for the past few years. We provide NHS Primary Medical Services to the neighbourhoods of Howden, Ladywell, Eliburn, Livingston Village, and Kirkton.
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DISRUPTION TO OUR SERVICE
27th - 28th AUGUST 2018
From Monday 27th August at 12.30pm until Tuesday 28th August at 6.00pm the Practice computer system will be ŌĆ£downŌĆØ due to an upgrade initiated by The Scottish Government.
... During this time we are committed to providing as full a service as we are able however there will be limitations on our system:
The Administration Office will close at 12.30pm until 2.00pm on Monday 27th August 2018 to enable our system to be taken offline. The Duty Doctor will be available for any Patient requiring urgent/unscheduled care.
On re-opening at 2.00pm the Practice will have a small number of PCs with access to a ŌĆ£read onlyŌĆØ summary of Patient Notes only.
Our Acute Illness Team will provide bookable on the day face to face consultations for any acute clinical conditions.
Repeat prescriptions ordered on Monday 27th August from 12.00pm will not be available for collection until Friday 31st August after 4.00pm.
Test Results will not be available.
Normal service is expected to resume on Wednesday 29th August 2018.
We apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused and thank you for your patience and understanding.
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