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
Everyone should be registered with a GP practice. For more information please see our Patient Registration page.
You can also use the NHS Lothian tool to find which GP practice covers your address.
New practice location for Hermitage Medical Practice from early 2025
Hermitage Medical Practice will be moving from Hermitage Terrace to the Balfour Pavilion at the Astley Ainsley Hospital site in early 2025. The new premises are just a short distance away (0.5 miles) from the current practice location and will provide improved facilities for both patients and staff.
The new premises at the Balfour Pavilion on the Astley Ainsley Hospital site will:
- give a family-friendly environment for people to see a primary health care team member.
- be more accessible for people with disabilities and sensory impairments.
- mean more space with better facilities and will be more energy efficient.
Patients currently registered with Hermitage Medical Practice do not need to take any action.
All patients will remain registered with the practice and will receive a letter to their registered home address to let them know about this move.
Further information about timelines will be communicated directly with patients over the next few months.
Patients do not need to contact the practice directly about this move.
When the practice moves, patients will receive the same warm welcome from the same team of people and can expect the same level of care but in a different clinical setting.
Frequently Asked Questions (October 2024)
Q: I have received a letter to say that the practice is moving. What do I do now?
A: You do not need to take any action. All patients will remain registered with the practice and communication will follow in due course with more detail about the new arrangements and the exact date of the move.
Q: Where is the practice moving to?
A: We are moving from Hermitage Terrace to the Balfour Pavilion at the Astley Ainsley Hospital site (133 Grange Loan, Edinburgh, EH9 2HL).
We do not have an opening date yet, but we expect to move into the new location early in 2025.
Q: How do I contact you now?
A: You should continue to contact the practice as normal for appointments and GP services on 0131 447 6277. We are open Monday-Friday 8am-6pm.
If you require urgent care when the practice is closed, please contact 111.
Q: What is the purpose of the move to Astley Ainslie Hospital Site?
A: There are a few reasons for the practice relocating to the AAH site:
- The current building owners have given the practice notice to leave as the lease has ended and therefore there is a time urgency to relocate the practice. Please note that Hermitage Medical Practice does not own 5/6 Hermitage Terrace, neither do any of the GP partners personally.
- The current building cannot meet the standard of facilities that you might expect from a modern GP practice.
- The new premises at the Balfour Pavilion on the Astley Ainslie Hospital Site provides suitable clinical accommodation for a modern GP practice in a location close to the site of the existing practice, that is better designed around your needs as well as the needs of the practice team.
Q: Why was there no patient consultation period regarding the move?
A: Patient consultation is not always practicable when circumstances dictate that a move is inevitable and urgent. In addition, this move addresses accessibility issues with the existing accommodation, resulting in positive equality outcomes. Having considered all possibilities, this option provides suitable clinical accommodation for a modern GP practice in a location close to the site of the existing practice.
Q: How will I get to the new practice site on public transport?
A: The new practice site is around 0.5 miles from our current home, approx. 10-15 minutes on foot. The closest bus stops served by Lothian Buses are:
- Morningside Road: routes 5, 11, 16, 23
- Strathearn Road: route 5
- Kilgraston Road: route 41
Q: Is there parking on site at Astley Ainslie Hospital?
A: There is parking available in Astley Ainslie Hospital with disabled parking spaces at each of the buildings. Alternatively, there is non-metered parking on the public roads to the south of the site and metered parking available in the public roads just out with the site.
Q: I am registered disabled. How will I access the new practice site?
A: Our new home at the Balfour Pavilion will be fully accessible for people with disabilities and sensory impairments. All the buildings on site are wheelchair accessible with ramp access and disabled toilets.
Q: I am a new patient in the area looking to register with the practice. Will the move affect this?
A: There is no change to the current registration process or boundary. Patients should continue to register at the practice from 10am -4.30pm, Monday to Friday.
Q: Where will I collect prescriptions from when you move?
A: Prescription arrangements will remain the same throughout. See the list below from local chemists who offer a collection service for your prescriptions:
- Lindsay & Gilmour 18-20 Comiston Road, Tel 447 2336
- Boots 207-209 Morningside Road, Tel 447 6188
- Boots 10a Buckstone Terrace, Tel 445 1157
- Co-op 55a Mayfield Road, Tel 667 1992
- Hutchison 2 Fountainhall Road, Tel 667 2151
- Lorimer 153 Morningside Road, Tel 447 2041
- Fountainbridge Pharmacy 179 Dundee Street, Tel 229 8281
Q. I am really unhappy and concerned about this move. We are making every effort to ensure the move is carried out smoothly and efficiently with no disruption to our services. This move ensures that the patients of Hermitage Medical Practice will continue to have access to healthcare within the local area, in facilities that meet the standard of a modern GP practice.
For access to appointments and GP services, patients should continue to contact the practice as normal on GP services on 0131 447 6277.
Temporary Restrictions
Registration for new patients at the following practices is currently closed.
- South Queensferry Medical Group
- St Leonard’s Medical Practice
- Ferniehill Surgery
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 are experiencing difficulty in registering with a practice, please check the NHS Lothian tool to find which GP practice covers your address .
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.
If you have a question about how GP practices are working, please visit our FAQs page.
