Your community health care services

Find out how to get the right care in the right place

With the pressure on the NHS, it’s more important than ever to use services wisely.

Make sure you know how to get the right care in the right place. Whether that be advice from your GP, dental services, a pharmacy or somewhere else.

Remember to treat staff members with respect, as they do their best to deliver the care you need.

Looking after yourself

Before you phone your GP practice, dentist or optician you should:

Appointments

When you phone, a staff member will talk to you to decide the best care option. This might be by phone, video, or by making an appointment to see you in person.

You should make sure you read any information given before your appointment.

Role of the receptionist

The information you give to receptionists helps the GP, dentist or optometrist plan their workload for the day. Patients with urgent needs are dealt with first.

This might mean a healthcare professional will need to phone you back for a fuller discussion about your condition.

Information you give any healthcare staff is confidential and this includes receptionists.

Reception teams do not make clinical decisions, but they’re trained to help patients get to the right service.

Further information about care navigation

When attending any healthcare setting

Do

  • be patient and respectful towards staff – they’ll do their best to attend to your needs as soon as they can

Don’t

  • do not attend in person if you, or someone that you live with, have any coronavirus or breathing symptoms, unless told to do so by a healthcare professional
  • do not arrive too early for your appointment – aim to attend the appointment 5 to 15 minutes before the appointment time

Phone and video consultations

Many GP appointments (which includes appointments with a GP or another member of the GP team) are now carried out over the phone or through NHS Near Me. NHS Near Me is a secure and easy way to video call a healthcare professional using your computer, tablet or mobile.

If you can’t attend a pharmacy in person, but they need to see you, you may also be able to use NHS Near Me. Check with your community pharmacist if this service is available.

You may need to see a healthcare professional in person for a physical examination or if tests need to be carried out. The team can help you decide which is the best option for you.

If you’re unable to use these technologies, you can let them know.

NHS Pharmacy First Scotland

If you have a minor illness, a pharmacy is the first place you should go for advice. They can also help if you run out of a repeat prescription.

What is a minor illness?

Your pharmacist can advise you about conditions such as:

  • acne
  • allergies
  • athlete’s foot
  • backache
  • blocked or runny nose
  • coldsores
  • constipation
  • cough
  • cystitis (in women)
  • diarrhoea
  • earache
  • eczema
  • headache
  • headlice
  • haemorrhoids (piles)
  • hay fever
  • impetigo
  • indigestion
  • mouth ulcers
  • pain
  • period pain
  • shingles
  • skin infections
  • sore throat
  • threadworms
  • thrush
  • urinary tract infections (UTIs)
  • verrucas
  • warts

Further information about Pharmacy First

Dental

If you have any oral pain or find something in or around your mouth that you’re unsure about, you should contact your dentist.

To book an appointment, you should phone your dental practice. The team will give you advice about the options available.

Priority is being given to people with urgent dental problems. You may be referred to your local urgent dental care centre.

Further information about accessing dental services

Optometry (opticians)

Opticians are open for all eye care services including emergency and essential eye care routine examinations.

You should always contact an optician first if you have any eye problems such as:

  • red and/or sticky eye
  • pain in or around your eye
  • sudden loss of vision
  • blurred or reduced vision
  • flashes and floaters

The majority of eye conditions can be managed by your optometrist.

Free NHS eye examinations are available in Scotland to all UK residents. It’s important that you have your eyes regularly examined, even if you’re not worried about your vision. This helps find eye problems and signs of other health conditions before they become more serious. If necessary your optometrist can refer you for any further help you need.

If you’re unable to travel yourself, you can arrange a home visit. Contact an optometry practice about this.

Further information about accessing eye services

General Practice

Staff will ask you for some general information to help you to see or speak to the right person. This may not always be with a doctor. Pharmacists, physiotherapists, nurses or other healthcare professionals may be available to help.

Further information about accessing GP services

Mental health

You can use our mental health self-help guides.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or need support you can phone NHS 24 on 111, day or night.

You can also contact Breathing Space on 0800 83 85 87. They’re open Monday to Thursday, 6.00pm to 2,00am and Friday from 6.00pm to Monday until 6.00am.