DRS SHARPE, PUTTA & BURNS
SIGHTHILL HEALTH CENTRE
380 CALDER ROAD
EDINBURGH, EH11 41U
TEL. NO. 0131 537 7040
FAX. NO. 0131 537 7005
Website: http://www.sighthillhcpractice.co.uk
THE PARTNERS:
Dr Fiona Sharpe
MB ChB MRCGP DRCOG DFFP
Dr Devi Putta
MB BS DObs MRCOG DFFP
Dr John Burns
MBChB MRCGP
Practice Manager – Avril Blyth
WELCOME TO OUR PRACTICE
Practice Manager
Avril Blyth ensures the smooth running of the practice on a day to day basis. Should you
have any comments or suggestions on any aspect of the practice she will be happy to speak
to you.
Reception Staff
Elizabeth, Susan, Sharon, Jackie and Jill.
Practice Nurse
Sister Karen Nicoll – R.G/N., R.S.C.N., B.S.C. (Comm Health), F.P. (Cert) Dip. Asthma.
Karen offers a wide range of services including:
Asthma Reviews
Diabetic Clinics
Cervical Smears
Hypertension Monitoring
Cardiovascular Monitoring
Health Promotions
An appointment is required to see the Nurse. Tel. No. 0131 537 7040.
District Nurse Team
The District Nurses work in partnership with the GP’s, carers and other agencies to provide
individualised total patient care including assessments, bowel and bladder management,
palliative care, wound care, removal of stitches, injections and other clinical procedures
for patients in their own homes, who are unable to attend the surgery. The District Nurses
will be available for phone calls between 0830hrs-1630hrs. Tel. No. 0131 537 7167.
Health Visitors
The Health Visitors are available for advice on child health. They are qualified nurses with
special training and experience in child health, health promotion and education. They
offer practical support and advice in a host of diverse situations. Health Visitors aim to
promote the health of the whole community. You will find them at the GP surgery working
alongside them to act in your best interest. Their aim is to help you have as health a life as
possible, both physically and mentally.
The Well Baby Clinic is held on Tuesday between 1300hrs-1430hrs. The doctors and Health
Visitors carry out routine checks and immunisation. The Well Baby Clinic is for well babies
only and, in order to prevent cross infection, if your baby is unwell you should not bring
your child to the Well Baby Clinic but please do make an appointment a doctors
appointment if you have any concerns.
Tel. No. 0131 537 7164
Maternity Care
The midwives run our practice based Ante Natal Clinic. The midwives based at the surgery
liaise with the Simpson Maternity Pavilion and they provide both Ante Natal and Post Natal
care. The Ante Natal Clinic is held every Friday between 0900hrs – 1100hrs. Patients can
also be seen at St John’s Hospital, should they wish.
Minor Surgery
Minor Surgery is performed by all doctors by special appointment. There is a regular Wart
and Cryotherapy Clinic which is every third Tuesday between the hours of 1600hrs –
1800hrs.
Diabetic Clinic
We have a dedicated Diabetic Clinic based at our Practice. The Clinic runs every
approximately every 6 weeks and is run by Dr Sharpe and Dr Putta. It may be convenient
for patients to attend their own practice for diabetic checks rather than going to the
Hospital. However, patients who are on insulin or have major medical problems may still
have to attend the hospital clinics.
Other Services
Physiotherapy, Dietetics, and Smoking Cessation Clinic is available through the Practice.
Surgery Times
The Surgery is open until 1800hrs. Health Centre doors close at 1800hrs:
Monday – Friday
0800hrs – 1800hrs
All consultations are by appointment only – bookable by telephone or by person at
reception. Urgent problems will be seen on the same day.
Dr Devi Putta
Dr Fiona Sharpe
Dr John Burns
Monday
0900hrs-1130hrs Surgery
1530hrs-1730hrs Surgery
Wednesday
1100hrs-1300hrs Surgery
1500hrs-1700hrs Surgery
Thursday
Week 1 –1100hrs-1300hrs Surgery
Week 1 –1320hrs-1450hrs Baby Clinic
1500hrs-1600hrs Surgery
Week 2 – 0900hrs-1120hrs Surgery
1500hrs-1700hrs Surgery
Tuesday
Week 1 – 1330hrs-1500hrs Baby Clinic
1500hrs-1700hrs Surgery
Week 2 – 1100hrs-1300hrs Surgery
Thursday
Week 1 –0900hrs-1120hrs
1500hrs-1700hrs Surgery
Week 2 – 1100hrs-1300hrs Surgery
1320hrs-1450hrs Baby Clinic
1500hrs-1600hrs Surgery
Friday
1100hrs-1300hrs Surgery
Monday
1130hrs-1330hrs Surgery
1430hrs-1630hrs Surgery
Tuesday
1100hrs-1330hrs Surgery
1430hrs-1630hrs Surgery
Wednesday
0900hrs-1120hrs Surgery
1530hrs-1730hrs Surgery
Friday
0900hrs-1120hrs Surgery
1500hrs-1700hrs Surgery
* When GP’s are on holiday or attending courses or meetings locum doctors may be
required. These doctors are fully qualified and work on a limited basis in the practice.
Out of Hours Emergencies
The Health Centre will be closed from Friday, 1800hrs until the following Monday at
0800hrs. NHS24 deal with out-of-hours emergency situations.
In the event of a medical emergency please telephone:
08454 24 24 24
In the event of a life threatening situation please telephone:
999
NHS24 may give you advice over the telephone or ask that you attend a designated centre.
The doctor will visit at home only if the patient is medically unable to attend the
designated centre.
Home Visits
Where possible, please telephone before 1030hrs to request a home visit. The receptionist
will ask for some clinical details to determine the urgency of the request. Please
remember a doctor can see 3 patients in the surgery in the time it takes to do 1 visit.
Telephone Advice
If you need advice from the doctor the most convenient times to telephone are between
1130hrs and 1230hrs. Please note that the doctors may be busy in meetings and it is not
always possible for them to come to the telephone. Where possible, please leave a
message with the reception staff.
Prescriptions
When ordering your repeat medication please allow at least 48 hours advance notice and
please use your repeat prescription request form. If you are requesting medication which is
not on your repeat record please allow a further 24 hours so that the special request can be
actioned. Should you require your prescription to be posted to you, please enclose a
stamped, self addressed envelope. If you wish your prescription to be collected by your
local Chemist, please let them know. the Chemists which collect prescriptions from our
surgery are: Co-Op Pharmacy, Lloyds Chemists (Sighthill and Wester Hailes), McKinnon
Pharmacy and Calders Chemists. From time to time you may receive with your prescription
a request to see your doctor. This is because most medications require regular review to
ensure their greatest benefit.
Flu Clinic
If you wish to be vaccinated against the flu bug and you are over 65 years of age or have
a chronic illness, please contact the Receptionist to make a suitable appointment. The
clinic runs from September to March each year.
New Patients
New patients will be asked to complete a registration form and new patient questionnaire.
You will also be asked to provide photo identification and proof of your home address.
Changes to Personal Details
Please advise our Reception Staff should you change your name, address, telephone
number or any other personal information that we may wish to record in your medical
records. Remember to also inform any support services (i.e. the hospital, physiotherapy
service etc) you are attending or are awaiting to attend in the future. If you move house
outwith our practice catchment area you should register with a new GP as soon as
possible as we are unable to provide medical services outwith this area.
Protecting Personal Information
Members of the NHS team looking after you will share your personal information with
each other; you will normally meet all of the staff and be introduced to them by name.
The team may include nurses, doctors, therapists, pharmacists, laboratory staff, and
clerical support staff, nursing or other healthcare professionals who are looking after
you. All these people are bound by a high standard of confidentiality. Your information
will not be available or shared with NHS staff, trainees or students who are not looking
after you directly and do not need to know it. This is called “the need to know”
principle.
Every time you attend your doctor’s surgery or your hospital, staff will record details of
your medical history, personal life and treatment as part of your routine care. Staff
need this information to care for you properly. This information is kept in your medical
case record or on your computer record.
If you agree, your relatives, friends and carers can also be kept up to date with the
progress of your treatment.
Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002
The practice has adopted the British Medical Association’s Model Publication Scheme for
General Practitioners. If you require further information, please contact our Practice
Manager, Avril Blyth.
Complaints
Please feel free to let us have any constructive criticism or suggestions which would
improve the service we provide for you. We operate a complaints procedure and would
ask that in the first instance you make an appointment to speak to the Practice Manager
– Avril Blyth – who will be pleased to help you, or alternatively see one of the doctors if
you prefer.
Consent for Minors
The practice embraces the current Children (Scotland) Act, Child Protection Guidelines
together with the Responsibilities and Parental Rights Agreement.
Under Section Law, young people aged 16 years and over have the same right to consent or
non-consent as adults.
Private/Non NHS Work
A number of tasks we are asked to complete for patients, solicitors, insurance companies
etc are not covered under our contract with the NHS. Therefore, they are completed
privately in the GPs own time and a fee is payable for these services. Please speak with
our Reception Staff regarding the rates applicable for each service.
Disabled
The practice is located on the ground floor and is easily accessible. There is also a lift
and toilet facilities for disabled patients.
The Practice Area
Our catchment area covers EH10, EH11 and EH14.
Our responsibilities to you:
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We are committed to giving you the best possible service.
You have the right to be treated with courtesy by the doctors and the practice staff.
You have the right to confidentiality.
You will be seen at short notice for an emergency consultation. Appointments must be
made for routine check-ups and repeat prescriptions etc.
We will try to ensure that you are seen on time, but some consultations take longer
than others and we have no way of knowing about this in advance. If there is a patient
with an emergency or serious problem we will give them priority.
On the occasions when we are running late, an explanation will be given to you by the
receptionist.
Patients who request repeat prescriptions must give at least 2 days’ notice before
collection, not counting Saturday and Sunday.
We have the right to remove patients from our list if they repeatedly and persistently
ignore their responsibilities to us and other patients.
Your responsibilities to us:
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Please consider your responsibilities to the practice and to the other patients who use
our services.
We ask that you treat all members of the practice team with courtesy and respect.
Please do not ask for a home visit unless the patient is physically unable to be brought
to the surgery.
On the occasions when we do run late, please be patient, because on another occasion
it might be you that needs extra time. Please do not blame the receptionist.
Please remember don’t abuse the system by using the emergency provisions for nonurgent matters or imply that something is urgent if it is not.
Please cancel appointments that you cannot attend or no longer require – another
patient could use this appointment slot.
Please remember that doctors are only human – they cannot solve all your problems and
some illnesses cannot be cured.
If you do have a genuine complaint, please contact the Practice Manager, Avril Blyth, in
the first instance. This is the quickest way to solve problems.