Polwarth Medical Practice will be closed permanently on 28th November 2025. All patients have been sent a letter advising them of their new practice. If you have not received a letter and don't know your new practice please e-mail - loth.polwarthpatientenquiries@nhs.scot . The staff at Polwarth are sad about the practice closure and we wish our patients all the best for the future.
Please help us by getting the right care in the right place by:
searching NHSInform.Scot for self-help advice on common symptoms and a guide to local services and opening times
visiting your local pharmacy first to help treat minor illnesses, many can provide consultations without an appointment and prescribe medicines previously only available from your GP
calling the GP practice for routine or urgent care during normal opening hours
contacting your dentist for dental problems or an optician for eye problems
calling 111, day or night, for minor injuries advice and treatment or for urgent care when your GP or dental practice is closed
dialing 999 or attend A&E ONLY in a critical emergency
OTHER SERVICES WHICH COULD HELP YOU
Many problems can be dealt with by other professionals.
PHARMACY -Many health conditions can be managed by your local pharmacy. Pharmacy First is a new service. Before contacting the practice please click on the information link below to find out whether your condition could be treated by a pharmacist.
OPTICIAN - Local opticians will help with any eye problems. An optician has the correct equipment to enable examination of your eyes.
DENTIST - Any problems with your mouth or teeth should be dealt with by your dentist. They have the correct equipment to examine your mouth and can also prescribe.
EAR SYRINGING - Patients can now self refer for ear syringing to the local CTAC (Community Treatment and Care Centre) situated at Sighthill Health Centre. To book an appointment please phone them. There is an automated telephone service and you will need to leave your name, date of birth, address and say that you are registered at Polwarth Medical Practice. The phone no is 0300 790 6296. You will then receive an appointment by post. Treating your ears with oil for at least 2 weeks is still the initial recommended non - intervention treatment.
MINOR INJURY UNIT - Minor injuries can be assessed by Call MIA (Minor Injury Asessment). This can be accessed by phoning NHS24 on 111. The line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. Call MIA will give advice over the phone, or using an online video service accessed from a mobile, tablet or computer with webcam. If they need to examine you they will schedule you an appointment at a minor injuries service. Appointments are available between 10am - 10pm, 7 days a week.
Children under 12 years old with a minor injury should attend one of the services at Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Western General Hospital or St John's Hospital. If under 1 year old should attend the Emergency Department at Royal Hospital for Sick Children or St John's Hospital
Call MIA is available to patients with injuries that are less than 5 days old. Injuries it can advise on include:
strains, sprains and suspected broken bones to limbs only ( not back,chest or abdomen )
wounds and minor burns (not to face, groin or hands)
minor bumps to head and face (with no vomiting or loss of consciousness )
simple eye injuries
insect bites and stings with localised swelling and no evidence of allergic reaction
PHYSIOTHERAPY - If you have muscle or joint problems you can self refer to Physiotherapy. Further information on the attachments - Referral Poster Self Referral Form
PHYSIOTHERAPY - If you have low back pain below your rib cage, are between 18-65 and are not pregnant you can get immediate advice for lower back pain from a new digital back pain clinic which is being trialed by the Physiotherapy Dept. Double click on the link and scroll down to lower back pain and sign up for the Flok health register. You should receive immediate help once you have registered on the app. LOWER BACK PAIN
PHYSIOTHERAPY FOR CHILDREN - Physiotherapists are experts in how bodies move and develop. The can help children from birth to 18 years old. Look at their website for further information on how to get advice. Childrens Physio Patient Helplines and Information CHILD PHYSIO WEBSITE
NHS INFORM - The NHS INFORM website has a lot of information and advice about health matters - NHS INFORM WEBSITE LINK
BSL NHS INFORM - The NHS INFORM website has a lot of information translated into British Sign Language Videos - BSL NHS INFORM
BSL CONTACT - contactSCOTLAND-BSL is a service which can be accessed on demand by BSL users to communicate with staff for shorter periods of time - for example communicating with reception staff - this is funded by the Scottish Government. BSL contact SCOTLAND
PREGNANCY - You do not need to see your GP if you have done a home pregnancy test. You can refer yourself directly to your midwife by calling 0131 536 2009. You will be given the date of your first appointment with your midwife and the date for your early pregnancy scan.
TRAVEL VACCINATIONS and INFORMATION- Travel vaccines are no longer given in the practice. There is a new NHS Travel Clinic based at Western General Hospital. See their website for more details TRAVEL CLINIC WEBSITE . Please note that as per NHS Lothian's guidelines we no longer prescribe Diazepam for fear of flying. For further details use the following link - Diazepam for Flying Information
SEXUAL HEALTH CLINIC - There are various sexual health clinics in Lothian. Appointments can be made directly by phoning 0131 536 1070 or using the online booking system - www.lothiansexualhealth.scot/book-an-appointment/ Appointments can be made for Long Acting Contraception advice/procedures and for STI testing.
There are currently Healthy Respect walk in clinics for 13-18year olds. These are held at Chalmers Clinic, 2a Chalmers Street, EH3 9ES - Monday to Thursday 3.30pm to 7pm and Friday 1pm to 3.30pm.
EATING DISORDERS - If you are having problems with an eating disorder or worried about someone who is, then look at the following website for some help and information https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/
MENTAL HEALTH - If you are affected by mental health challenges or care for someone who does, The Mental Health Information Station can help. They provide a free weekly drop-in session at Walpole Hall, Palmerston Place, EH12 5AW on Thursdays from 10am - 3pm. No appointment is necessary. Look at the leaflet for further information.
Thrive Edinburgh, Space Broomhouse Hub, Broomhouse Crescent, EH11 3RH also offer a weekly drop -in session on Fridays from 9.30am - 1pm (last conversation of the day is 12.15pm)
Mental Health Information Station Leaflet Mental Health Information Station Newsletter
Thrive Information
FEELING SUICIDAL - If you are having thoughts of suicide, please reach out for help, speak to someone you trust or call one of these helplines -
Samaritans - 116 123 or use the online chat at samaritans.org
Breathing Space - 0800 83 85 87
NHS 24 Mental Health Hub - 111
Papyrus Hopeline247 - 0800 0684141 or text 88247
Suicide Prevention Website - SuicidePrevention.scot
(Site updated 02/12/2025)