Castle Street Surgery
Dr H McGill & Partners
39 Castle Street
Luton, LU1 3AG
0844 387 9242
Tel:
International Tel: 0870 111 4467
Website
www.castlestreetsurgeryluton.co.uk
When the surgery is closed call 0844 387 9242
Welcome to Dr McGill and Partners
The doctors and staff at Dr McGill and Partners in Luton 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 antenatal and
postnatal care, minor surgery, childhood vaccinations and well-person check-ups.
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 like.
Disabled Access
There is a ramp at the Surgery entrance for wheelchair access and we have disabled toilet
facilities.
Opening Times
Times
Monday
08:00 - 18:30
Tuesday
08:00 - 18:30
Wednesday
08:00 - 18:30
Thursday
08:00 - 18:30
Friday
08:00 - 18:30
Weekend
closed
Extended Hours
We offer extended opening on various weekdays in the late evening between 6.30pm– 8pm.
Please speak to one of our reception staff for further details.
When We Are Closed
If you have an emergency that cannot wait until the next surgery, please telephone 0844 387
9242 and you will be advised how to contact a duty doctor. Please remember that this service is
intended to provide URGENT medical attention for ill patients. If it is abused by calling for non
emergencies which could wait until the next surgery, other patients could be put at risk.
Through NHS Luton we have a contract with care UK to provide out-of-hours cover.
NHS Direct
In the case of urgent need when the practice is closed you can call NHS Direct
(www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/) (0845 4647) to speak to a triage nurse. Your needs will be assessed and
advice offered or arrangements made for you to see a doctor.
Please do not ask to see a doctor out of hours unless you genuinely cannot wait until the surgery
re-opens.
Call 999 in an emergency. Chest pains and / or shortness of breath constitute an
emergency.
Appointments
The Surgery operates an appointment system. Appointments can be made by telephone, online or by calling into the Practice.
In order to meet the increasing demand for appointments, we have employed a team of skilled
health care professionals who work alongside the GPs and therefore, with your co-operation, we
can point you in the direction of the person who is best equipped to deal with your needs.
Please note that an appointment is for one medical problem. If you have a number of issues to
discuss, please ask for a longer appointment or you may be asked to rebook as consultations are
limited to up to 10 minutes only
Emergencies
If you have an urgent medical problem that you feel needs attention on the same day, please
discuss this with the receptionist and you will be offered an appropriate appointment on the same
day, this also applies to urgent telephone appointments.
We employ two specialist nurses, who are fully trained and work alongside the GPs. These
nurses are specially trained to manage urgent medical problems.
Please do not abuse the urgent appointment system with non-urgent problems.
Languages
Italian and Ghanian are spoken. Please ask at reception
Telephone Advice
If you feel that you have something that can be dealt with over the telephone and you feel that
the doctor will not need to see you in person, then please ask one of our reception staff for a
telephone appointment.
Home Visits
If possible please try to telephone reception before 10:00 if you require a home visit.
Visits are carried out in the middle of the day between morning and afternoon surgeries.
A doctor or nurse may phone you back as it may be that your problem can be dealt with by
telephone advice, or that it would be more appropriate to send a nurse, or indeed arrange a
hospital attendance.
House visits are only available for patients who are housebound because of illness or disability.
Please remember that several patients can be seen in the practice in the time that it takes to make
one home visit. There are also better facilities for examining and treating patients at the surgery.
Student Health Centre
You will be asked to produce your student identification when attending the Surgery. We
undertake the medical care of students attending Luton University, providing that they are
registered with the Practice. Students are entitled to make use of the services we provide.
Repeat Prescriptions
If you are taking long-term medication, you will be issued with a computer printed prescription
with a re-order slip. This slip should be used when re-ordering your medication. We will need at
least two working days’ notice to prepare the script.
We are unable to accept telephone or fax requests and do not post out prescriptions in the post.
Some chemists operate a collection and delivery service on request, please ring your local
pharmacy to arrange this service.
Generic Medicines
You may notice that the name of your medicines may change or will have changed. This is
because we use generic names. If you are worried about the change in name or appearance of
your medicines, check with the pharmacist or doctor who will be able to explain why they are
different. For example, Paracetamol is the generic name for Panadol.
Prescriptions Charges and Exemptions
Extensive exemption and remission arrangements protect those likely to have difficulty in paying
charges (NHS prescription and dental charges, optical and hospital travel costs).
The NHS prescription charge is a flat-rate amount which successive Governments have thought
it reasonable to charge for those who can afford to pay for their medicines. Prescription
prepayment certificates (PPCs) offer real savings for people who need extensive medication.
NHS charges
These charges apply in England only. In Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales
prescriptions are free of charge.
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

Prescription (per item): £7.40
12-month prepayment certificate (PPC): £104.00
3-month PPC: £29.10
If you will have to pay for four or more prescription items in three months, or more than 14 items
in 12 months, you may find it cheaper to buy a PPC.

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Telephone advice and order line 0845 850 0030
General Public - Buy or Renew a PPC On-line
There is further information about prescription exemptions and fees on the NHS website
(www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcosts/Pages/Prescriptioncosts.aspx)
Please allow 48 hours, excluding weekends and Bank Holidays, for your request to be processed.
Any problems please telephone the surgery.
Clinics & Services
Clinics & Services
Diabetic, coronary heart disease and asthma/COPD clinics are run by specially trained nurses
who liaise with the appropriate lead GP to ensure you receive the best and most up-to-date
treatment to deal with your condition.
We also run travel vaccination, minor surgery, family planning, baby vaccination, antenatal, post
natal and flu vaccination clinics. We offer appointments for cervical smears.
Health Checks
Where a registered patient between the age of 16 and 75 has not attended surgery within the
preceding three years and asks for a consultation, this will be provided and, in the course of the
consultation, appropriate enquiries and examinations may be offered.
If you are aged 75 years or over, you should be seen annually either by your doctor, the practice
nurse, district nurse or health visitor. This can be arranged at the surgery or, if that is not
possible, a home visit will be arranged.
Minor Surgery
Dr Zaidi runs Minor Surgery Clinics dealing with moles, warts, verrucae, cysts and skin tags.
You will need to be seen by Dr Zaidi in a routine appointment before you can be booked into the
Minor Surgery Clinic.
Other Services
Doctors are prepared to carry out recognised medical services not covered by the NHS and for
these a fee will be charged.
If you wish to make enquiries about administration or non-medical aspects of your health or
treatment, our reception staff or Practice Manager will be able to help you.
Nursing Services
Nursing Services
Members of the team are responsible for dealing with different conditions and treatments as
shown below:
Minor Illness Nurse
Can deal with Earaches, sore throats chest infections, cystitis, urine infection, diarrhoea and
vomiting, vaginal discharge, eye infections, family planning and contraception services, sinusitis,
cough, hay fever, nose bleeds, rashes, eczema, ingrowing toenails, mouth problems, boils,
indigestion, constipation, worms, minor injuries.
Practice Nurses
Can deal with Smears, ear syringing, dressings, vaccinations, childhood immunisations, travel
health, pill checks.
Health Care Assistants
Can deal with Blood pressure checks, blood tests, registration checks and annual B12
injections (please inform the receptionist at time of booking).
Contraception
Our Sexual Health Nurse can deal with contraception including Implanon, cervical smears,
vaginal swabs and chlamydia testing and treatment
Sickness Certificates
Sickness Certificates
You do not require a doctor's sickness certificate for any illness lasting seven days or less. Your
employer may however require you to complete a self-certification form (SC2) which is
available from your employer or on the HMRC website (www.hmrc.gov.uk/forms/sc2.pdf) .
Evidence that you are sick
If you are sick for more than seven days, your employer can ask you to give them some form of
medical evidence to support payment of SSP (statutory sick pay).
It is up to your employer to decide whether you are incapable of work. A medical certificate,
now called a 'Statement of Fitness for Work’ (see below) from your doctor is strong evidence
that you are sick and would normally be accepted, unless there is evidence to prove otherwise.
You could also provide evidence from someone who is not a medical practitioner, e.g. a dentist.
Your employer will decide whether or not this evidence is acceptable. If your employer has any
doubts, they may still ask for a medical certificate from your GP.
Statement of Fitness for Work - ’Fit Note'
The 'fit note' was introduced on 6 April 2010. With your employer's support, the note will help
you return to work sooner by providing more information about the effects of your illness or
injury.
For more information see the DirectGov website
(www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Illorinjured/
DG_175850) (where this information was sourced)
Registration
New Patient Registration
When registering with the Practice, you will be asked to provide 2 forms of I.D (proof of address
dated within the last 3 months and photo I.D). You will also need to complete a registration
form and health questionnaire which will be provided upon reciept of correct I.D. We will then
book you an appointment for a routine registration check with the Health Care Assistant.
You have a right to express a preference to receive services from a particular doctor or nurse
either generally or in relation to any particular condition. The Practice will endeavour to comply
wherever possible with your wishes.
Medical treatment is available from the date of registration. Please contact reception for further
information. You will be unable to book any appointments until you have completed the full
registration process.
Practice Area
Practice Area
Staff Details
GP Training
Our Practice is a Training/Teaching Practice. We train registrars who wish to specialise in
General Practice. Our registrars are fully qualified and have a great deal of hospital experience.
Registrars attached to our Practice become General Practitioners after completing their training.
When booking an appointment you may be asked if you would consult with our registrar.
We are also fortunate to have medical students and doctors from the hospital attached to our
Practice for short periods. If you do not wish to have the student or hospital doctor present during
your consultation please inform a memeber of the reception staff.
Doctors
Dr Helen L McGill
BDS (Hons) 1976 MB BS 1983 London
Dr Peter G Williams
BSc 1969 PhD 1972 MB BS 1974 LRCP MRCS 1974
Dr Emma C Salik
MBChB 1999 Leeds MRCGP
Dr Dorcas Owusu-Yianoma MBChB 1992 UGMS MRCGP MRCPCH
Dr Abbas Zaidi
MBBS 1999 MRCGP 2005
Dr Laura Czech
MBBS MRCGP DCH DRCOG
Dr Ruchira Karunadasa
MBBS BSc MRCGP
Dr Erika Harland
Nurses
Karen Warren
Minor Illness Nurse - SRN
Wendy Feugard
Minor Illness Nurse - RGN
Joyce Tetteh
Practice Nurse - RSCN SEN
Anne Holdstock
Practice Nurse - RGN
Healthcare Assistants
Jayne Hardy
Kimberley Dovey
Practice Management
Marion Layton
Practice Manager
Jenny Fletcher
Deputy Practice Manager
Administration
Sylvia Talling
Secretary
Sue Presland
Clinical Care/ Complaints Manager
Helen Watts
I.T / Information Governance Manager
Berni Perkins
Secretary/ Administrator
Carole Phillips
Maternity & Immunisation Administrator/ Phlebotomist
Zoey Hamill
Registrations Administrator
Sariya Younas
Post / Cytology Administrator
Reception
Kay Allan
Debbie Murphy
Prescription Clerk
Dawn Bird
Linda Reardon
Emma Larkins
Community Nurses
Ruth Tilley
Macmillan Nurses
Joan Payne
Community Matron