The Practice will be closed from 1230 on Wednesday 26th February for Staff Training.

This page is designed to give you updates from the Practice about holidays, current campaigns running throughout Midlothian and any correspondence we feel may be useful for you to know.

We are aware of the current difficulties being experienced by some patients when trying to dispose of their sharps, and of the impact that this is having.

A locally negotiated service has been in place with community pharmacy to enable patients to return their sharps to pharmacies for safe disposal.  Towards the end of last year, a significant number of pharmacy contractors had withdrawn from providing the service; however, many are now reinstating this. 

The list below details the community pharmacies that are providing the sharps service plus those who will begin in the coming weeks, the start dates are detailed below.  In addition, sharps boxes can now be obtained and disposed of at several NHS sites across Lothian.  

The ‘Help with your Type 2 Diabetes’ leaflet contains sources of help & information to help you self-manage your type 2 diabetes.

Scan the QR code or visit the website for more information. You can download a full copy.

Diabetes Managed Clinical Network – NHS Lothian | Our Services

NHS 24 has recently launched a new mobile app, offering people across Scotland an additional way to find out more about their symptoms and how best to deal with them.

‘NHS 24 Online’ provides information on self-care or what to do a condition worsens and medical help is needed. The NHS 24 Online app offers patients another choice in how they find out about their symptoms and find out what to do next.
There is also a virtual chatbot function to answer questions and get further advice for a range of issues including running out of medicine or help for: ·

• Eye problems

• Flu-like illness

• Lower back pain

• Urinary tract infections (UTIs)

NHS 24 Online can also help people find their nearest health and care services using postcodes or location data. It will detail how far away each service is, if it is open or closed, and the contact details for that service. Services included are Pharmacies, General Practices, Dental Surgeries, Minor Injury Units, Optometrists, Sexual Health Clinics and more.

‘NHS 24 Online’ is available for both Android and iOS devices and free to download now.

nhs24.info/app-apple
nhs24.info/app-android

The Right Care Right Place (RCRP) campaign aims to help the public use health and social care services appropriately. Key to this is communicating to the public the range of options available:
• Go to A&E if you have a life threatening condition such as a stroke, heart attack or severe bleeding
• If it’s not an emergency then you can: contact their general practice during the day, call NHS 24 on 111 day or night, visit your local pharmacy or use the self-help guides on NHS inform for practical advice and information.
It is important that the public have a clear understanding of how and where to access the right help and support for their specific health needs, enabling them to take charge of their own health, save them time and alleviating some of the pressures the NHS is facing.

The new Mental Health & Wellbeing Platform for Employers has been developed in partnership with the Employment and Mental Health Working Group, which brings together the experience and expertise of cross-sectoral representatives from employer organisations, Trade Unions, mental health organisations and public sector partners. Apologies if you have received this from multiple sources, however we are working with PHS to share the platform across our relevant stakeholders.
We understand that employers can sometimes find it difficult to find the right information and advice to support mental health and wellbeing at work, and we want to signpost them to reputable information. The platform is targeted at employers of all sizes in Scotland from large scale companies to SMEs and the self-employed, but this will also be a useful resource for employees.
How You Can Help
Content is available to create and promote the new platform, and we would very much appreciate your support in helping raise awareness by sharing this content through your own channels:
• Encourage people to visit the new platform by using the suggested editorial copy in newsletters and/or intranets.
• Share campaign social assets across your own channels.
• Like and follow Healthier Scotland's Facebook and Twitter accounts and share posts where relevant.
• Get in touch if you have any potential employer case studies that could feature on the platform.
Stakeholder Toolkit
The Stakeholder Toolkit outlines the resources available, with all assets available via the SG Marketing Resource Centre.
• Background information
• Key messages
• Social media graphics and social copy suggestions
• Editorial copy
• Website graphics
https://sgmarketing-newsroom.prgloo.com/resources/f/healthier-scotland-campaigns

How the NHS handles your personal health information

https://www.nhsinform.scot/care-support-and-rights/health-rights/confidentiality-and-data-protection/how-the-nhs-handles-your-personal-health-information

Midlothian health activities

Click on the link below to find Temporary Ageing Well activities programme during restrictions.

https://www.midlothian.gov.uk/info/521/sport_and_leisure/9/midlothian_health_activities/3

These activites are organised by Midlothian Council and take place at your local Leisure Centres and Community Halls.