What To Do if You're Visiting Edinburgh and Need To See a Doctor?

If you’re in Edinburgh for work, or on holidays, you might find that you need to see a doctor. Provided your need isn’t urgent or life-threatening, a GP or General Practitioner might be a suitable option for you. The Heriot Clinic is a private GP service in Edinburgh meaning you pay for your appointment without having to rely on NHS provision.

In this blog, we’ve tried to answer some of the commonly asked questions by tourists and travellers to Edinburgh who need to see a GP. Of course, you can contact the clinic by email or phone with your questions. 

And remember, if you need urgent medical care, you should call 999.

How do I know if I need a GP or hospital care? 

If your condition is urgent or life-threatening, then you might need hospital care. There is a service in the UK called NHS 111 who can recommend where you should go for medical assistance. You can either call them on 111, visit the NHS 111 website or use the app.

Making a GP appointment in Edinburgh

The easiest way to book an appointment with us is via our online booking system. When you click through, you can choose an appointment type (generally by duration required).

Then you’ll see the upcoming days and times that appointments are available.

Our clinic at 461 Queensferry Road, Edinburgh is easy to get to from all areas of Edinburgh. We are 15 minutes by taxi from Royal Mile, 8 minutes from Edinburgh Airport and 12 minutes from Leith. 

Once you’ve been seen by Dr Johnston, you may be issued with a prescription. The closest pharmacies to The Heriot Clinic are Omnicare Pharmacy Drumbrae and Boots Pharmacy in Davidson’s Mains. The pharmacist will be able to advise you on the cost of getting your prescription filled.

Do I need to rely on travel insurance? 

The cost of a private GP appointment at The Heriot Clinic starts from £150. This means that you could be better off paying for your appointment out of pocket, rather than claiming on your travel insurance. Of course there may be circumstances where it is useful to claim on travel insurance, so check with your insurance. 

If you have any questions we haven’t covered in this post, please contact us.