Welcome to Bourtreehill Medical Practice

STOP PRESS (1) The H1N1 Influenza Virus - “Swine Flu”. For general advice, please go to www.nhs24.com or www.direct.gov.uk/swineflu or contact NHS24 on 08454 242424 or the national helpline on 0800 1 513513.

If you have symptoms and think you may have the virus, do not come to the surgery but use the above sources to check your symptoms. If appropriate, then contact the surgery by telephone on 01294 211993 as normal for GP advice 0830 to 1730 (8.30 am to 5.30 pm) Monday to Friday. The doctor will consult with you by an appropriate method and arrange treatment if it is considered clinically necessary. Outside surgery times please call NHS 24 on 08454 242424.

You will know from national and local media that vaccine to protect against the virus is now in GP practices. Here, in “question and answer” form updated 14 January, is information on the topic of vaccinations for Bourtreehill patients:

What do I do to get the jab?
PLEASE CALL US IF YOU WOULD LIKE A BOOKED APPOINTMENT SLOT AND YOU ARE IN ONE OF CATEGORIES DUE THE JAB. WE WILL NOW VACCINATE PATIENTS OF ALL AGES OVER 6 MONTHS IF YOU ARE IN ONE OF THE CATEGORIES BELOW. NHS AYRSHIRE AND ARRAN ARE CURRENTLY INVITING THE UNDER 5s TO ATTEND FOR VACCINATION SEPARATELY.

The categories are:

This is 2 jabs, or is it 1?
Some people including those under 10 years old and those whose resistance to infection is lowered will require 2 jabs, and these will be 3 weeks or more apart. Patients who receive a particular kind of vaccine will also get 2. However, there will be many for whom 1 jab will provide adequate protection, and you will get advice about this at the first vaccination.

Can I get the jab done elsewhere?
This may be possible, if you are vaccinated elsewhere please ensure that those giving you the vaccine tell us so that we have accurate and complete records. Our information is that the under 5s in our practice will be invited to go to Ayrshire Central Hospital for the vaccination.

I haven’t had my ordinary flu jab yet. Should I still have it and can I get it done at the same time?
Yes you should and you can have it with your swine flu jab. We’re also still encouraging people to come in for the seasonal flu jab anyway.

So, I’m over 65 but otherwise completely healthy – I don’t need the swine flu jab right?
Correct, but you do need your regular seasonal flu jab if you’ve not had it already. Please call us.

Can I get a swine flu jab on a private prescription even if I don’t need it?
Swine flu vaccine is not available on any kind of prescription and national supplies are being closely controlled. If you need the jab we will be in touch or you can call us. Any use of the vaccine not directed by appropriate health professionals denies its use to someone who does need it.

Catch it, bin it, kill it! – Remember your personal hygiene factors and catch coughs and sneezes in a tissue if you can.

Please remember that the practice cannot be responsible for the content of other websites to which we provide a link.

STOP PRESS (2) We have a vacancy for a “job share” medical receptionist. Please check out the Job Centre Plus website for more details. Applicants are invited to send a CV to Mr Faulks the Practice Manager at robert.faulks@aapct.scot.nhs.uk by Friday 29 January.

STOP PRESS (3) Have you spotted our “Contact Us” section above, at the right hand end of the top menu bar on this page? – just like all the best websites! In addition to the other numerous links to get in touch with us that are around the site, this section allows you to tell us about a CHANGE OF ADDRESS (to a new address WITHIN the practice area) a CHANGE OF TELEPHONE NUMBER, or even to CANCEL AN EXISTING APPOINTMENT. Please read the instructions carefully! …And don’t forget you can order ordinary repeat prescriptions from the site. Just click "Prescribing" from the top menu above, and check the news page for a more detailed introduction.

Situated on the Eastern outskirts of the light industrial town of Irvine in Ayrshire, Bourtreehill is a 6 GP partner medical practice which is consistently achieving high quality standards within its contract with NHS Ayrshire and Arran. The practice is accredited by the NHS Education West of Scotland Region as a Training Practice. It provides essential, additional and enhanced services, along with a range of other doctors' surgery services including acupuncture and "GP with Special Interest" dermatology to a typically representative and predominantly younger population.

Resident in a purpose built health centre in the community they serve, the GP Doctors purchased the premises from the Ayrshire and Arran Primary Care NHS Trust in December 2002. A full refurbishment and 34% expansion of the premises was conducted in 2003. Within the Centre the GPs provide accommodation for and work in cooperation with Community Nurses and Health Professionals, as well as their own Practice Nurses and administrative support.

Our website gives details of our doctors and services, a range of information from our current issue leaflet, and practice news. For patients, it shows how to use the facilities and help the clinicians and staff to everyone's benefit. If you are not a patient or a prospective patient, you should of course consult your own doctor for your needs, but welcome anyway.

Choose from the menu options at the top of the page to start browsing the site.