Pharmacist / Pharmacy team.

Southbank Surgery has a Senior Pharmacist and pharmacy technician who works in practice and who works as part of our clinical team. 

Our Senior Pharmacist is an independent prescriber primary care pharmacist who with the help of the pharmacy technician deals with medication reviews, medication changes or queries and stock issue queries.  

Our Clinics

Enhanced Services

We also hold contracts for the following 'enhanced services':

1. Joint Injections
2. Regular monitoring of patients on a range of drugs for arthritis and bowel problems.
3. Annual reviews for patients with heart disease, diabetes (includes appointment with the dietician and podiatrist), stroke/TIA, MS and palliative care (see Practice Nurse page)

Vaccination Information

Vaccination History/Status

The Practice Nurse or Doctor can only issue information concerning your vaccination history. Reception staff are not qualified to release this information to you. As your vaccination status/history is very important, your records require to be checked by a clinician. To obtain your vaccination history, please submit this request in writing to the Practice, Southbank Surgery, 17-19 Southbank Road, Kirkintilloch G66 2NH.

Please allow at least seven to ten working days for your reply.

Please note e-mail requests are not acceptable. For medico-legal reasons we require a signed mandate by the patient for our records.

Hepatitis B Vaccination

Patients should seek advice from their employer. Students requesting Hepatitis B immunisation for occupational purposes are advised to contact the occupational Health Department at the University where provision for any immunisation will be made.

GPs do not provide an occupational health service as part of their NHS responsibility. 

Further Information >>

Tetanus vaccination

A vaccination to protect against tetanus is given as part of the NHS childhood vaccination programme.

The full course of the tetanus vaccination consists of five doses. The first three doses are given during early childhood. This is followed by two booster doses. The first booster dose is given at around four years of age. The second one is given 10 years later. After the full course, you should have lifelong immunity against tetanus. However, if you or your child has a deep wound, it’s best to get medical advice.

If you are not sure whether you’ve had the full course, for example because you were born in another country, contact your GP for advice.

Further Information>>

Flu Vaccination

This year you may notice you're invited to a new location to receive your flu vaccination or the health professional giving your immunisation has changed. GP practice will NOT be involved in the flu vaccination program this year. This will be done centrally and you will be sent a letter from the health board with a designated time/date and location to receive this.  If the date/time on the letter does not suit then please follow the guidance on this to rearrange. DO NOT PHONE THE GP PRACTICE, the staff at the surgery are not aware of the appointment date/times.

Please check NHS inform (link below) for all details regarding the flu vaccine this year. 

https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/immunisation/vaccines/flu-vaccine

Pneumococcal vaccination

This is also known as the pneumo jab, provides protection against pneumococcal infections.

Pneumococcal infections are caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is sometimes referred to as the pneumococcus bacterium. There are many different strains (types) of the bacterium that can cause a number of conditions, including:

• pneumonia – inflammation (infection) of the lungs
• septicaemia – a form of blood poisoning from an infection in the blood
• meningitis – an infection of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord

At-risk group

A pneumococcal infection can affect anyone. However, some groups of people have a higher risk of the infection developing into a serious health condition. These include:

• children who are under two years of age
• adults who are 65 years of age or over
• children and adults with certain chronic (long-term) health conditions, such as a serious heart or kidney condition

Types of pneumococcal vaccine

There are two different types of pneumococcal vaccine:

• pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV): this is given to all children under two years of age as part of the childhood vaccination programme
• pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV): this is given to people who are 65 years of age or over, and people at high risk
• Further information >>

The HPV Vaccine for girls aged 12 &13

The HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine is designed to protect against the two types of HPV than can cause 70% of the cases of cervical cancer. It does not protect you against all other types, so you will still need to start going for regular cervical screening when you are 25 years of age.

It is important that you get this protection early enough for it to be effective and the best time for that is in your early teenage years. The vaccine won’t protect you against other sexually transmitted infection. You will need three injections over a period of six months to get the best protection. You will be informed when your immunisation is due. The nurse will give you the injection in your upper arm

Call the free NHS helpline on 0800 22 44 88 (Textphone 18001 22 44 88).

Travel Vaccinations

GP practice no longer carries out travel vaccinations.  Please check with a local pharmacy or check the fit for travel website below.

There is further information about countries and vaccinations required on the links below.  It is important to make sure you check the Fit for Travel website before handing in your forms.

https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/home

Europe & Russia	North America
Central America	South America
Caribbean	Africa
Middle East	Central Asia
East Asia	Australasia and Pacific

Travelling in Europe

If you are travelling to Europe the EU has published useful information for travellers on the European website.

Out of Hours Emergency

Emergencies

In the event of a life threatening emergency phone 999

If your problem is urgent, please phone the surgery on 0141 776 2183 (24 hours) and a recorded message will give you the telephone number of

NHS 24 – 111.  This service is available as below;

Monday to Friday: 18:00 – 08:00

Weekends: All weekend until 08:00 Monday

Public Holidays: All day

Out-of-hours services are generally busy so please think carefully before asking to see a doctor and only do so if you genuinely cannot wait until the surgery re-opens.

If you believe you or someone you are with may be having a heart attack or a stroke do not delay, phone 999.

 In a genuine emergency you should call 999.

                Chest pains and / or shortness of breath constitute an emergency.

If you need to see a GP urgently please explain this to our receptionist when you phone to make an appointment.

Out of Hours: Call NHS 24 – Freefone 111

If it is less urgent and the surgery is closed, you can contact NHS 24 by calling 111 free from any phone.

Sickness Certificates

Self-Certificate

You do not require a doctors sickness certificate if you have had any illness for 4-7 days in a row, you can self–certify your illness using a SC2 form. You can obtain this form from your employer or from on the HMRC website.

Statement of Fitness for Work

The Doctor will provide you with a Statement of Fitness for Work (‘Fit Note’) if you are still not well enough to work. Your employer will most likely request this statement as evidence to support payment of Statutory Sick Pay (SSP).

Further information is available at the Direct.Gov website.  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.

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 (where this information was sourced)

Private Certificates

If you or your employer require further information concerning your period(s) of illness, then your Doctor may require to issue you with a letter. Please note that that there may be a charge for this service.

Home Visits

Whilst we encourage our patients to come to the surgery, where we have the proper equipment and facilities available, we do appreciate this is not always possible.

The surgery telephone line 0141-776 2183 opens at 08:15am.  Please telephone as early as possible if a visit is required.

You may only request a home visit if you are housebound or are too ill to visit the practice. Your GP will only visit you at home if they think that your medical condition requires it and will also decide how urgently a visit is needed. Please bear this in mind and be prepared to provide suitable details to enable the doctor to schedule house calls

You can also be visited at home by a community nurse if you are referred by your GP. You should also be visited at home by a health visitor if you have recently had a baby or if you are newly registered with a GP and have a child under five years.

Are you eligible for ambulance transport?

Non-NHS Services

Some services provided are not covered under our contract with the NHS and therefore attract charges. Examples include the following:

• Medicals for pre-employment, sports and driving requirements (HGV, PSV etc.)
• Insurance claim forms
• Passport signing
• Prescriptions for taking medication abroad
• Private sick notes
• Vaccination certificates

The fees charged are based on the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested scales and our reception staff will be happy to advise you about them along with appointment availability.

East Dunbartonshire Improving the Cancer Journey

East Dunbartonshire Improving the Cancer Journey (ED ICJ) is a new service provided by East Dunbartonshire Health & Social Care Partnership (HSCP) in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support. The ED ICJ service will offer people with a cancer diagnosis, access to the support they need in a timely manner. 

We work with our local primary care colleagues, GP’s and Local Authority partners, who can send referrals on your behalf.  Once we receive a referral, we will ask you to complete a Holistic Needs assessment (HNA) to highlight the most important issues to you. The HNA is a concerns checklist which includes all areas of concern; physical, emotional, social, financial, family, spiritual and practical. If anything listed on the form has caused you concern recently, please score the concern from 1- 10, with 10 being the highest.

We then offer a consultation with a dedicated Cancer Wellbeing Practitioner who will discuss your concerns so we can advise and support you. 

Referring into the service is easy, via telephone, email or website. Patients can self-refer via these pathways. We also welcome referrals for family members and carers of a person affected by cancer. 

Please contact us:

• By telephone: 0141 232 8256
• By email: eastdunicj@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
• By online referral form: https://www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/services-adults-and-older-people/improving-cancer-journey-service

ED ICJ
Health Improvement Team
East Dunbartonshire HSCP

Kirkintilloch Health centre 

10 Saramago Street
Kirkintilloch
Glasgow
G66 3BF

0141 232 8256