We are keen to highlight services which can be accessed independently, without a GP referral. These self-referral options are normally quicker than being referred by your GP, and offer direct access to specialist services. They will usually provide information to your GP on discharge from their service, unless you ask them not to.
We have also listed some useful online resources for advice and guidance on some common or difficult situations.
- CWIC Mental Health Support Line: call 01620 642 963 on Monday to Friday, 9am-4pm
- Minor Injuries Assessment: call 07977 246 848 11am-7pm
- Musculoskeletal Assessment Service: call 01620 642 968 on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays 9-11.30am
Further information about these services, and some others is available here.
For NHS advice on how to manage a range of health conditions, and how to access medical services, visit www.nhsinform.scot or see the self-help guides here.
A range of patient information on many health conditions is available from:
- www.patient.info – featuring helpful factsheets on lots of conditions.
- HeathTalk Online – features videos of adults and young adults talking about specific conditions.
- Youth HealthTalk Online – features videos of young people talking about their experiences of accessing health services and about specific conditions
For advice and information about children who are unwell (‘When Should I Worry?’), click the image on the right.
A to Z of Where to Get Help
A
Advocacy & financial/benefits help
- CAPS Advocacy provides advocacy support to people who use or have used mental health services. You can contact them on 0131 273 5116
- Citizens Advice Bureau (Haddington) – call 01620 824 471
- Citizens Advice Bureau (Dunbar outreach at Bleachingfield Centre on Tuesday mornings)
- Citizens Advice Bureau (Dunbar outreach at Dunbar Medical Centre – on GP referral)
- National Debtline (Scottish site)
Alcohol & drug addiction
- Alcoholics Anonymous – East Lothian groups
- DrinkAware
- Mid and East Lothian Drugs Gateway Service (MELD)
Asthma
B
Blue badge
Bowel screening
Bowel symptoms
- NICE/BDA What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome? factsheet
- FODMAP Food Guide for Irritable Bowel Disease (try this if you have been advised to do so by a medical professional)
- NHS Lothian Gastroenterology Advice page – focussing on inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome and dyspepsia (‘heartburn’)
C
Care package
- Request a self assessment or review of care needs or call East Lothian Council directly on 01875 824 309.
Carer Support
- Carers of East Lothian or call 0131 665 0135
- Carers UK
- Citizens’ Advice: Guide to Benefits
- Day Centres in East Lothian including Dunbar Day Centre
- YoungScot guide for Young Carers
Children & Pregnancy
- Ready Steady Baby
- Ready Steady Toddler
- When should I worry?: A guide to self-limiting illness in children
- ERIC – helpful guide and resources for bedwetting
- How long should I keep my child off school? (NHS UK guidance)
- Immunisations Scotland
- Help for School Refusal (YoungMinds)
Chiropody – see Podiatry
Counselling – see Mental health
D
Dental – NHS Inform directory of local dental services
Dizziness
- Your GP may recommend that you take a look at these pages for dizziness.
- BPPV information sheet
- Epley Maneouvre
- Labyrinthitis
Drug & alcohol addiction
- Alcoholics Anonymous – East Lothian groups
- DrinkAware
- Mid and East Lothian Drugs & Alcohol Gateway Service (MELD)
E
Eye problems – your optician can be consulted for concerns about eyesight or about your eyes, including emergencies or concerns about eye infection. Our local optician is Lindsay Opticians in Dunbar High Street.
F
Fear of Flying
H
Health Visitors
- Can be contacted at Dunbar Medical Centre on 01368 861 447 or 01368 861 448.
M
Maternity/Midwife/Pregnancy
- To access maternity services, simply call 0131 536 2009 and arrangements will be made for a booking appointment with the midwifery team. A GP appointment is not necessary to refer yourself to this service.
Men’s Health
- Erectile Dysfunction Questionnaire – download this if you are asked to do this by your GP
- International Prostate Symptom Score – download this if you are asked to do this by your GP
Mental health
- Breathing Space – 0800 83 85 87 (weekdays 6pm-2am, weekends Friday 6pm to Monday 6am)
- First Response (crisis support for patients in East Lothian) – 07966 526 452 and leave a message – messages will be picked up Mon-Fri between 11am and 1pm.
- NHS24 – call 111
- Samaritans – 116 123 – or email jo@samaritans.org
- SHOUT – text SHOUT to 85258
- CHANGES mental health support – 0131 653 3977
- ‘I Had a Black Dog’ book and the YouTube film – helpful to understand, and describe to others, what depression and anxiety feels like.
- MoodGym
- First Response East Lothian helpline – 07966 526 452 – leave a message and you will be called back
- Steps for Stress booklet to download
- Young people and parents may find the following websites helpful:
- Beat Eating Disorders website
- Childline or call 0800 11 11 (this number will look shorter than usual, but it is correct)
- HandsOnScotland – for parenting advice
- ParentLine Scotland or call 08000 28 22 33
- Scottish Centre for Conflict Resolution
- The LowDown – helpful website in New Zealand for young people
- TheMix – useful advice and guidance on a range of children’s and teenagers’ health concerns
- YoungMinds – for helpful advice about young peoples’ mental health
Minor ailments
- find out more about services available directly from your pharmacist here.
Minor injuries – find out more about the NHS Lothian Minor Injuries service
P
Physiotherapy
- For all soft tissue/joint problems, you can self-refer to the Musculoskeletal Service by calling 0800 917 9390.
- If you are self-employed or work for a company of less than 250 employees, and have a problem that is affecting your work, you can refer yourself to NHS Lothian Working Health Services by phoning 0131 537 9579. They offer a waiting time of 10 days or less for physiotherapy and counselling. During the coronavirus lockdown period, you can access physiotherapy services via a new phone service, available on 01620 642 968.
Podiatry
- To request a podiatry service you can complete this form and return it to the podiatry department.
R
Riding for the disabled
- Visit the Muirfield Riding Therapy website for information on free riding sessions. Complete the form available on the website, speak to them directly, and if a GP form is required please discuss this with your GP.
S
Sexual health
- Information about NHS Lothian Sexual Health services are available at https://www.lothiansexualhealth.scot.
- More information about their services for young people can be found here.
- If you are unable to access their services, please seek advice from your GP.
Sleep
- Sleep Scotland website or call 0800 138 6565 for phone/web advice for parents of children with difficulty sleeping.
Smoking
- Quit Your Way Scotland website or call 0800 84 84 84 for advice on stopping smoking.
- Your local pharmacy may be able to help too – including the prescribing of nicotine or other medication.
Social care
- East Lothian Council Social Work website – or call 01875 824 309 or in an emergency 0800 731 6969.
Suicide or Self Harm – see Mental Health
Symptom Diary – your GP may ask you to complete this to find out more about your symptoms. You can download a copy here.
T
Termination of pregnancy
- You can self-refer by calling the Chalmers Unit directly on 0131 536 2424 between 9am and 3pm Mon-Fri. More information about this service is available here.
Travel advice & vaccinations
- Travel advice is no longer provided by the practices at Dunbar Medical Centre as this is deemed a specialist area and is not an NHS GP service.
- The first step in obtaining travel advice is to check your itinerary with www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk.
- For personal or more specialist advice, we recommend that you seek advice from a specialist travel clinic.
- If you need any of the NHS-provided vaccinations for travel (diptheria, tetanus, polio, hepatitis A and typhoid) please fill in this form and return it to your practice reception. One of our team will review your request, check your medical record for previous vaccinations and make contact to arrange for these to be provided.
- For all other travel advice, and for the vaccinations that are not available from NHS GP services, you should contact a specialist travel clinic.
- There are are some not-for-profit Lothian clinics which can give travel advice and provide non-NHS vaccines:
- HealthLink360 Travel Clinic, Elphinstone Wing, Carberry, Musselburgh, EH1 8PW
- Tel. 0131 653 6767 :: Email admin@healthlink360.org
- The Travel Clinic, Regional Infectious Diseases Unit, Ward 41 Outpatient Department, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh EH4 2XU
- Tel. 0131 237 2823
- HealthLink360 Travel Clinic, Elphinstone Wing, Carberry, Musselburgh, EH1 8PW
- These are some nearby private clinics (however we don’t recommend any particular clinic, and others are available):
- Boots Travel Clinic, Edinburgh Fort Retail Park
- Tel. 0131 669 4428
- Edinburgh Travel Clinic, Newington Pharmacy, Edinburgh
- Tel. 0131 667 2368
- Superdrug Travel Clinic, Princes Street, Edinburgh
- Tel. 0333 060 3914
- TrExMed Travel Clinic, 43 Bruntsfield Place, Edinburgh, EH10 4XJ
- Tel. 0131 278 3007
- Boots Travel Clinic, Edinburgh Fort Retail Park
U
Urinary tract infection
- Your local pharmacy may be able to quickly assess and treat your urine infection if you are an adult with no complicating medical problems.
W
Walking aids
- You can print and send this form to access an assessment for a walking aid.
Working Health Services
- Working Health Services offer physiotherapy, counselling and input, for people who are self-employed or work in a company of up to 250 employees. They aim for waiting times of 10 days or less. You can find out more about the services they offer from the link above or call 0131 537 9579. You can refer yourself to their team without a GP referral.