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General Practitioners (GPs) NHS Lothian | Our Services

General Practitioners (GPs)

For medical advice, treatment or prescriptions, you can contact your GP practice.

GP practices are busy. If you have a minor illness, please think about whether you can manage it yourself with guidance from NHS Inform  or visit your local pharmacist first. 

Your local GP practice can give you more information about which services they offer and how you can access them.

How to Register with a GP

Anyone can register with a GP practice. For more information please see our Patient Registration page. 

You can also use the patient address lookup for GP Practices to find which GP practice covers your address.

Changes to GP Practices

Polwarth Medical Practice is closing from 30 November 2025 – the last day of opening will be Friday 28 November.  Patients are being reallocated to neighbouring GP Practices and will receive a letter sent to their registered address advising of the changes.  

Please visit our FAQs page for more information.

Temporary Restrictions

Registration for new patients at the following practices is currently closed.

  • Liberton Medical Group
  • Polwarth Medical Practice
  • Southern Medical Group
  • St Leonards Medical Centre

This measure has not been taken lightly but is essential to ensure these practices can maintain the safe delivery of care.

Patients should continue to try to register with their local practice where lists are open, although in some cases it may take longer than usual to register. 

If you have been unable to register with a practice or are otherwise experiencing difficulty you can email loth.primarycareenquiries@nhs.scot for further advice. Please include your full address and postcode in your email.

How GP Practices are Working

There are now more ways you can access care from your GP practice including over the phone or video call. If you need to be seen in person you will be given a face-to-face appointment.

When contacting the practice, the GP receptionist will ask a few questions to make sure you get the right care with the right person at the right time.

Alongside GP’s, many practices offer appointments with nurses, pharmacists, health visitors, district nurses, counsellors, podiatrists, community psychiatric nurses and other specialist professionals.