News
Easter Public Holidays practice closure UPDATED 06 MARCH 2024
CLOSED Good Friday 29 March 2024
CLOSED Easter Monday 01 April 2024 (honestly 🙂)
The GP Practice will be closed on the above dates. There is a clinician based in the local area who can be contacted during Out of Hours periods by phoning 111 to speak to NHS24. Calls to this number are free from any handset.
In a medical emergency dial 999 and ask for the AMBULANCE service.
Out of Hours services UPDATED 25 MARCH 2024
The Practice had a productive meeting with NHS Highland on Tuesday 19 March and we have agreed a resolution to the situation that NHS colleagues are taking through their governance process and we anticipate receiving confirmation later this week.
Citizens Advice Bureau - Update 8th February 2024
Ross & Cromarty Citizens Advice Bureau are now running a regular advice service on the third Thursday of every month in Gairloch Community Hall.
They offer advice on a wide range of issues, including benefits, debt and money, energy, work issues, relationships and housing. They can provide benefit checks and help with form filling.
People can book an appointment by telephoning them on 01349 883333 or emailing at adviser@alnesscab.casonline.org.uk
Gairloch Dentist closed UPDATED 17 JANUARY 2024
Gairloch Dental Practice has announced that they have closed. Their notice attached here which includes instructions for existing patients how to access services:
Gairloch Dental Practice closure notice
NHS Highland is obliged to offer dental services to all patients. Follow this link for information about where and how to access Highland dental treatment.
The NHS Highland dental helpline provides information about dental practice registration plus emergency care for unregistered patients according to clinical need:
- phone 0800 141 2362
- email nhshighland.dentalhelpline@nhs.scot
- availability Monday to Friday, 8.45am to 5.00pm
GP Practices do not provide dental services. GPs do not have the requisite skills to manage dental conditions.
Vaccination appointments UPDATED 09 JANUARY 2024
The NHS Scotland vaccination service invites eligible patients to book an appointment for any vaccinations. This includes influenza, covid, shingles, pneumococcal and childhood vaccinations plus any others that may be offered in the future. Vaccinations and immunisations are no longer provided by GP Practices and we are unable to make, amend or offer alternative appointment slots.
Eligible patients should access the NHS online booking portal using login information previously provided:
Patients should keep trying the portal to see if clinic dates are released. Alternatively phone the NHS Highland service delivery centre on 0800 0320 339.
https://www.nhshighland.scot.nhs.uk/health-and-wellbeing/immunisation-and-vaccines/
Scanned paper records now returned UPDATED 8 JUNE 2023
All of the paper based medical records that were collected from the Practice sites in February 2023 have now been returned in electronic form. Patients' medical records are now held 100% in a digital form.
When patients leave the practice and register elsewhere in Scotland then their full medical record is transferred electronically. If patients register outside of Scotland, including in other devolved nations (England, Wales, NI), then the electronic record is sent to Practitioner Services (PSD) in Aberdeen. There is no cross-border digital transfer system at present so PSD print the record to paper and then send the paper copy to the new GP practice.
Online appointment booking service available UPDATED 06 FEBRUARY 2023
Patients who register for Practice online services can access appointment bookings as well as submit and monitor medication requests. Certain GP or Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) appointments can be booked. Other appointments can also be cancelled online.
To sign up for online services you will need an email address and access to the internet. The email address must be specific to one person and not shared. To sign up telephone or drop into your local surgery and be prepared to confirm your identity and we will help you get set up for the service.
Video consultations can be requested
We have the technology! If patients have a smart device connected to the internet with a camera (smartphone, iPad, laptop, PC + webcam, etc.) then we can offer a video consultation with clinicians. Clearly there will be circumstances when this is not appropriate, for example a blood test, but often video can offer a richer experience than a telephone call.
Please feel free to request a video consultation when booking your appointment. We can also offer an option to include more than one participant in the video consultation such as a relative who is living elsewhere. Practice link for video consultations: https://nhsattend.vc/gpnearme/aultbea-gairloch
How to order repeat medication
Our Vision Online Services repeat medication ordering is available. This service allows patients to login to a secure website and select your own repeat medication to order from what is available to you. The system will tell you if a request is in progress and allows the exchange of simple messages such as requesting additional medication that is not on your repeats list.
To sign up for online services you will need an email address and access to the internet. The email address must be specific to one person and not shared. To sign up telephone your local surgery and be prepared to confirm your identity over the phone and we will help you get set up for the service.
Patients can also request repeat medication either by calling their local surgery when we are open and choosing option 2 or by calling our dedicated phonelines on 712358 (Gairloch) or 731599 (Aultbea) at any time.
Useful websites UPDATED 16 NOVEMBER 2022
NHS Inform - self care advice for Scotland www.nhsinform.scot
GP Near Me link for patients to access the video consultation service (needs either Chrome or Safari browser)
https://nhsattend.vc/gpnearme/aultbea-gairloch
Book Highland vaccinations https://vacs.nhs.scot/csp
NHS Highland vaccination service details https://www.nhshighland.scot.nhs.uk/health-and-wellbeing/immunisation-and-vaccines/
Tick bites and lyme disease
Ticks are small, spider-like creatures which feed on the blood of animals and humans. Some of them carry Lyme disease which is an infectious disease which can be treated with antibiotics if detected early. However the best way of protecting against Lyme disease is to prevent tick bites or if bitten to remove the tick safely from the skin as soon as possible.
The practice has a number of resources available to help patients deal with tick bites and for advice when concerned, including translated versions in French and German. They can be found on our Tick Bites webpage following the Tick bites link under Further Information.
Our practice patient information leaflet has been updated with the latest guidance:
Home
The Aultbea & Gairloch Medical Practice Online
Please keep an eye on our NEWS pages for the latest service updates.
The doctors and staff at the Aultbea & Gairloch Medical Practice surgery in Aultbea and Gairloch are proud to offer the highest standard of patient-centred healthcare. We run many clinics for the management of chronic diseases such as asthma and diabetes and offer a wide variety of other medical services including minor injuries, minor surgery, antenatal and postnatal care.
In addition to everything you need to know about the practice you will also find a wealth of health-related information in the menu on the right hand side. Please have a look around and do send us some feedback if you wish. If you have everyday questions about health matters, including advice about how and where to access services, the NHS Inform website is there to help.
Access for the disabled
Our premises are fully accessible for wheelchair users and the disabled and we provide a disabled toilet. There is space for disabled parking in front of the buildings.
Practice Leaflet
The Practice Leaflet carries much of the information which is also available on this website. Follow this link to download the current edition.
Opening Times
Aultbea Opening Hours
Morning | Afternoon | |
Monday | 09:00 - 13:00 | 14:00 - 17:00 |
Tuesday | 09:00 - 13:30 | closed |
Wednesday | 09:00 - 13:00 | 14:00 - 17:00 |
Thursday | 09:00 - 13:00 | 14:00 - 17:00 |
Friday | 09:00 - 13:00 | 14:00 - 17:00 |
Weekend | closed |
Contact Details
Aultbea Surgery
Birchburn
Aultbea
Ross Shire
IV22 2HZ
(click for map)
Gairloch Medical Practice
Gairloch Health Centre
Achtercairn
Gairloch
Ross Shire
IV21 2BP
(click for map)