West End Medical Practice

I ‘inherited’ this medical practice as my own on moving to Edinburgh with my family. This was the family doctors my wife went to when growing up here and so it made sense we make it my families own.
I’m not too sure how you can review a medical practice so will attempt to focus and highlight the main things one looks for when visiting a doctor. So here we go…
1. Ease of making an appointment — pretty good. On average there are between 4 – 7 doctors available each day and although we now see one if them as the family doctor, should we not be able to get a timely enough appointment, We’ve always managed to see one of the others the very next day.
2. Waiting time once there — very good. Only ever waited a max. of 10 mins after the allotted appointment time.
3. The doctors themselves — this is an obvious statement, but each doctor to their own! They all appear caring, knowledgeable and attentive… and most importantly, capable!
In all our experiences in attending this centre, they have been positive and timely. Not that We are keen to make a habit of lobbing here, but when we do I know we’ll be looked after.

The West End Medical Practice is an NHS practice located on Chester Street in the heart of Edinburgh’s West End.
The practice has several doctors and as I am not too fussy so long as a doctor listens to me, I have seen all the doctors who work here and have been impressed with all of them.
The practice also has two nurses on duty who are very friendly and professional. I recently had cause to use the nurse on a regular basis to have dressings changed following an accident and they made a painful and distressing experience one that was actually bearable.
The practice also has a Diabetes Clinic which operates every week and ensures those who have diabetes are seen regularly without having to go to hospital.
My only complaint about the practice is sometimes it can be nigh on impossible to get through to them on the phone. This isn’t too much of a problem for me as I live close by and can go to reception to make an appointment but if you need a doctor’s appointment in a hurry and cannot do this it can be quite frustrating.
Also, the surgeries are held in the basement of the building, which means people with mobility problems struggle to get to see a doctor. Some surgeries are held on the ground level but there are still stairs at the front entrance.
Overall however this is a good practice and I have been very impressed with the service the staff provide.