Dingwall Medical Group

Other Services

All GPs are contracted to provide ‘essential services’, that is basic treatment of ill people. We also provide the following ‘additional services’:

Clinics

Minor surgery - all the doctors carry out minor surgery procedures. Please make a routine appointment to discuss this with your doctor.

Child health checks - after the six-week health check for mother and baby, further child health checks are carried out by the health visitor on the day when your child is due its routine immunisations. Please discuss any problems with the health visitors.

Non-NHS examinations etc - the doctors are happy to carry out medicals eg for insurance or employment. Please make an appointment through reception, letting the staff know what it is for. Please deliver the medical papers to the practice before the appointment so the doctor can review them. Please remember that these are private examinations and a charge will be made to the insurance company, employer or patient. A scale of fees for this and other services is available at reception.

Family planning - a full family planning service is available including the fitting of coils. Please make a routine appointment with the doctor of your choice to discuss.

Cervical smears - these are carried out by the practice nurses and some of the doctors. We operate a three-yearly reminder system. Please make an appointment when you receive the reminder and let reception staff know it is for a cervical smear. All female patients aged 20-60 are automatically included for this, but those who wish to 'opt out' should contact the practice.

Antenatal care - all the doctors undertake antenatal care in conjunction with the community midwives and hospital consultants. Appointments should be made during normal surgery hours.

Flu vaccines - these are administered every year from October onwards. It is recommended that all patients over the age of 65 and those in 'at risk' groups be immunised against influenza. Please check arrangements with the practice in October.

('At risk' groups include diabetics, patients with chronic lung, heart or kidney disease, patients who have had their spleen removed, as well as patients in residential or nursing home care.)

Vaccinations and immunisations - baby clinics for childhood immunisations are held on Wednesday morning by the practice nurses and the health visitors. You should receive a letter through the post advising you when an appointment should be made at the baby clinic.

Vaccinations required by students for a particular course may attract a fee.

Travel vaccinations are available through the practice nurses and appointments should be made at least eight weeks in advance of the date of travel. Patients should note that not all vaccinations required for travel are available on the NHS and in some cases a charge may be made.

Health checks - patients between the age of 16 and 75 can have a health check if they have not been seen for the previous three years.

Chronic disease management - clinics led by the practice nurses are run for this, the objective beng regular review of those patients with asthma, diabetes, chronic chest disease, chronic heart disease and those who have suffered a stroke/TIA at some time.

Please make an appointment for review in the month of your birthday.

Ross Memorial Hospital - the practice is responsible for the care of a number of medical beds in the Ross Memorial Hospital, which is situated adjacent to the health centre. The doctors take turns to look after the hospital beds and when one doctor is on hospital duty (usually for a month at a time) he/she may have fewer appointments available for routine surgery. We also provide a casualty service in the hospital between 9.00am - 6.00pm, with x-ray facilities between 9.00am - 5.00pm Monday to Friday. Outside these hours a 24 hour casualty service is available at Raigmore Hospital, Inverness.