It is practically impossible to see a doctor, when you phone to make an appointment you are told to…read morephone back at 8.30am to make an appointment. When you phone back at 8.30am all you get is an engaged tone. When you finally manage to get through you are told there are no more appointments left that day. So you ask how do I make an appointment to see a doctor - phone back at 8.30am tomorrow. It's Groundhog Day. It is apparently possible to make an appointment for two weeks away, by which time you are probable better or dead. I've no idea how good the doctors are as I can't see one to form an opinion.

You might remember this West End Clinic to be on Station Street in Edinburgh and the offices to be…read morefound in an old Georgian building. The interior was cozy enough, but definitely needed an overhaul in regards to equipment and a sterile impression. I'm happy to say that the offices now have moved to a new location opposite the road into a very modern building, specifically designed and built for the purpose of being a practical environment to serve it's client base. ALL equipment and interior is new. What I like about the place is the space. The waiting room is massive, airy and bright , compared to others I saw and the receptionists are very friendly, in person and on the phone. You also have the self service check in option. The toilets and facilities appear to very clean. In the beginning you needed to make an appointment in advance and most likely you had to call early in the morning, so that they could allocate a free spot to you. Nowadays, they introduced a walk in option in the morning, which runs from 8-10 am. You should arrive before 10 and check in. A doctor will be allocated to you. I believe that there are about 5 main partners/ doctors and a few nurses who help and take appointments for minor inconveniences. A community psychiatric nurse is also available, as well as Family Planning, community midwife and Phlebotomists. Consultation is by Appointment: 7.30-8.30 Wed &Fri. 8.30-11.00 and 2.30-5.30. House calls are possible, but shall be avoided. They take on new patients, who live within their postcode area. Appointments are about 10min long. The location is near to Haymarket!

Needlessly treat customers with suspicion and contempt if the receptionist on Friday morning was…read moreanything to go by and did not appear to be very emotionally intelligent when it came to dealing with people and actually listening , The receptionist created a drama out of an enquiry . Lack of common sense and a lack of bothering to treat others like human beings welcome to the new NHS. It appeared there were some issuers of racial bias and micro aggression going on how some of the people who end up working for the NHS get put in public facing roles is a mystery. I agree with the earlier comments of 2018 and the robotic developments seem to have come to pass a co worker was brought out and it got escalated in a panicked way and they wonder why patients are stressed when they have to deal with their police state conduct and robotic entitlements.

I've been coming here for the last three years and it's always been a professional but warm…read moreexperience! The doctors and receptionists are all lovely and very helpful. The waiting room is bright and airy with plenty of reading material. As doctors surgeries go, it's a good 'un!

In Fresher's Week we were virtually forced to sign up to the local Newington Surgery and most of us…read morewere thanking this within a matter of weeks when we came down with the notorious 'Fresher's Flu'. I thankfully evaded it, but around October time this place was swarming with red-nosed, pale-faced students and the doctors coped with it well. I did have to come here when I hurt my shoulder playing rugby. I was seen to by a particularly attractive and young GP who was very attentive. She also gave me plenty of helpful advice on how to recover and avoid future injury. The secretarial staff are also really friendly and there are plenty of informative pamphlets to read through as you wait. Definitely worth being signed up to them if you're a local student or resident.

I rang the surgery recently after the doctor here was recommended to me by a friend. It was obvious…read morethey don't want any new patients at the moment. They strongly advised that I go to a bigger GP surgery so it sounds like it is very understaffed.

I have found this practice to be the very best I have ever been in - and I'm in my 60's and have…read moremoved around a bit. They are so obliging, professional and willing to go the extra mile for you, i can honestly say I have never had the good fortune to be in a practice before. Five stars to all the team. Katie Wood

Registering here was slightly complicated, with unhelpful reception staff. The GP I saw was nice,…read morefriendly and professional though. It's relatively close to the city centre so handy if you live around there.

This is probably one of the best GP surgerys in Edinburgh. I have worked in a lot of them and this…read moreis the nicest one. Each GP is very good and very attentive and the reception staff are 'second to none'. Cant be praised highly enough. Pleasant atmosphere and waiting room also

This is possibly one of the most important services I have used in Edinburgh, and I am surprised…read morethat it has not been reviewed so far, so here goes. The Richard Verney Health Centre in Bristo Square is the health centre for the University of Edinburgh, and is situated directly on the university campus, just off Bristo Square. It provides the service of doctors and nurses to students and residents alike. There are a couple of great things about this place. The obvious one of these is the location. Besides that, the first great thing is their open access surgery. This runs from Monday to Friday, every morning between 9 and 10am. During this time, you can turn up without an appointment and see a doctor. This is great if something comes up, or you need some quick advice. Be warned - it does get very busy, especially during term time, so arrive as close to 9am as possible if you want a quick appointment. In the other clinics and surgeries that operate during the day at the centre, the appointments tend to run pretty close to time. Some surgeries can run horribly late, but I don't think that I have ever been in more than 15 minutes after the scheduled appointment time. The other great thing about this place is that there is a pharmacy in the same building, so no need for a long walk to get prescriptions or other pharmacy supplies. As a student, I feel that registering with a health centre is a must, and if you're a student at the University of Edinburgh, then this facility is a no-brainer.

Good organisation, easy location, good number of doctors, onsite pharmacy…read more Plus if you're like me and don't ever plan ahead there is a drop in every morning - if you turn up between 9-10 you will be seen by a doctor. Sure I've had to wait around for a while sometimes but worth it for not having to plan weeks in advance. Probably less good if you drive but for cyclists walking it's fine.

This is or at least was the worst practice in Edinburgh. Particularly Dr Susan M Grant, who is…read moreessentially unfit to practice medicine. Not sure if she is still there or not but she is the worst doctor I have ever encountered. After slipping a disc in my back and being on my back for more than a month in extreme pain, she took one look at me, laughed in my face and told me I'd be better in a week. No examination. Since that time I have been told by several other professionals that had I had treatment at the time then my back would now be fine, instead of which I am still in pain every day. I seriously advise you not to visit this practice.

I wasn't entirely sure how I was supposed to register with an NHS surgery, being a non-national,…read morebut these guys were incredibly helpful all the way through the process. The receptionists were not only friendly but very patient with all my questions. I've visited each of the doctors here now, and they've all allowed me to spend as much time with them as I needed to - I've heard horror stories about rushed appointments and hastily-written prescriptions - but they were very easy to deal with and made jokes while I was there to relax me, which was very much appreciated! I've always gotten appointments within at most two weeks of calling up, and I've been treated with perfect professionalism at all times.

This internet high five goes out to Dr. Rudman…read more But i'm going to preface this impending gush fest with a word of warning: I saw another GP here on an emergency appointment and had one of the worst experiences i've ever had at the doctors. There were tears. It was not pleasant. What GP you get on your first go is luck of the draw, as there are a handful of doctors that work out of this practice on rotation. If you get one you like: woohoo! You can look up what days they work online and make appointments with them specifically (though you'll likely have to wait a few weeks unless it's urgent). If you get one you don't: don't panic. Make note of their name and go back on a day they aren't working. May the odds be ever in your favour. (heh.) Ok, onto the jolly stuff. So I have a few ongoing health conditions (it gets jolly soon, I promise)... if my mind and my body had a sitcom, it'd be a hoot. My mind would be all "Ooo look at that shiny thing! Let's go build a fort! Unicorns!" and my body would say, "I hate you." Hilarious! Back in Canada, I had a dream team of doctor types (see Dr. James Dunne's review), so I was really hesitant to start all over again when I moved to Edinburgh, especially when I found out the appointments are only ten minutes. See that sitcom above? That sitcom is longer than ten minutes. But I lucked out. I registered with The Blue Practice (which was confusing as heck, but see Stockbridge Medical Centre review for that cheerful gripe) and Dr. Rudman was the first person I saw. I had returned from Canada the day before and let's just say, I was basically a walking zombie, if walking zombies had emotions and were blubbering idiots on the edge of a nervous breakdown. Dr. Rudman handled it like a pro (which... ok, you'd kind of expect.). He was calm, professional and informative. We set up our next appointment and he's been my go-to brain/body balancer ever since. He also took the steps to get me in touch with some specialists and slowly but surely, i'm building the dream team once more. Ten minutes isn't enough time to work miracles. We didn't have a deep and meaningful conversation. No mountains were moved. But I left feeling better and more confident moving forward that I had some of the building blocks in place... you can't really ask for more than that can you? Plus, once you get past the registration woes (likely expat confusion) and strange appointment wait times (probably expat confusion), the practice is pretty straight forward. The gals at the counter are pleasant and they have a fancy pants automatic check in. So when you are a blubbering mess and don't want to interact with other humans, it's an added bonus point. So if you find a GP you like, this place is aces. Go forth and be healthy Yelpers!

This is the short and sweet kind of review:…read more My poor wee eye was all red and hot and itchy recently and I'd no idea why. I wandered into the Blue Practice, just half an hour before close, and they were able to get me an emergency appointment, and fast. I left with two magical potions which are clearing up the problem. Health comes first and it's so easy to worry about a problem. So, I really appreciate that the Blue Practice and Dr. Drummond could put my worries at bay and give me a solution there and then.

This is my GP practice for over 8 years now. It is very…read moreconveniently located just of Elm Row in Stockbridge. The building itself is in need of upgrading but it is not that bad as it is a recent enough build. Accessible for wheelchair users. The Medical Center is occupied by 2 GP practices. mine is Dr Tolley's one. The GPs in this practice tend to stay a long time (2+ years or so). I feel really taken care of and listened to. The doctors I have consulted really take time to hear me out and find out what is wrong. They also have medical assistants and practice nurses, whom are efficient and very friendly (bar 1 or 2 occasions). As I have a chronic condition I require repeat prescriptions. Which they let me order by email. Opening times are until 6pm which makes it good for when you finish work and still need to visit them - saves taking time of work! Good job Dr Tolley!

There are two separate practices within the same building. So don't get confused between the two!…read moreI'm registered with Dr Tolley who are on the left hand side when you're facing the waiting room door. The reception, doctors and nurses have always been great and I've never had too much trouble getting an appointment. You can request to see the same doctor but I'm usually happy to see whichever doctor is available as I've only been in for fairly minor issues. All the doctors have been friendly and have been good about listening to what I've had to say. The nurses are always relaxed and kind and good at making sure I'm comfortable. No complaints at all.

I am now registered with the Blue Practice here and yes... I will be taking that FTR as well. But…read morebefore we get more specific, let me just start off with: Scotland: you're confusing as frak. And this practice...practices...centre... proves this. Thankfully, if you make it past the two different websites for two different practices that have the same desk and waiting room, you've pretty much conquered the battle. Congratulate yourself. Unfortunately, for this little expat - that battle was a big one to begin with. As a Canadian, I high five the NHS. Like our health care back home, it's a huge relief to know that the majority of my ailments are covered. Plus... you have dental. So you've beat Canada. Good job UK. But the method of registering with a GP as an expat can be highly confusing. There are armfuls of paperwork to bring, you walk into a building that looks nothing like the three seat waiting room of your GP's practice back home and there's different types of appointments to be had... I had the option to book for three weeks away... or an urgent same day appointment and i'm still not sure what the difference is. What I will say for both major practices here is that they are super patient with a confused little expat, especially since they are obviously understaffed at the desk and up to their eyeballs. Both ladies who helped me out on the phone and the the nurse who helped me in person, were efficient but kind in showing me the ropes. There were a lot of ropes. But once I was talked through them, things went pretty smoothly and I was able to navigate registration and then down the line, an appointment. Go team expat! If you live in Stockbridge, you're likely registered here. If you aren't and you need a practice with a quick turnaround on appointments (but only if you ask for the right one...), it's a good option to take a look at. If you're UK born and bred, you can likely skip this whole review. If you just moved here from across the pond - message me and we'll bond over epically confusing website forms.

At my first visit (solely for the purpose of registering) I found the whole process confusing. I…read moresay this because the information provided to me in person and the information provided online are vastly different. So much so that I had to leave, gather more paperwork from my bank (but apparently bank statements aren't accepted?) then return. So at first visit: a frustrating but necessary use of time. Second visit: health check with the nurse. A complete waste of time. I missed an hour of work for my height and weight to be taken. Could this 5 minute visit just be added onto a GP visit? Third visit: actual GP visit. I don't understand why I am allocated a GP if anyone is assigned to see me. Also, soo unimpressed. Being quite unwell, I explained my symptoms and after the generic temperature-blood pressure- light in throat check, I was sent on my way. I was in for all of 5 minutes and felt unheard and unwelcome during the visit, like I needed to move on because the GP was just oh so busy that he couldn't spare the time. Such a disappointment.