Merchiston Surgery

Who should I see?

We try to keep our GP appointments for patients with more serious health problems.

Before you book an appointment to see a doctor please consider whether an appointment with a practice nurse might be appropriate. They can help you with a wide range of medical problems.

Our receptionists can help you decide which is the right person for you to see.

Self care

If you have a cough, cold, headache or other minor ailment try treating yourself at home first. Find out more about treatments for common minor ailments.

Please remember that self-care for common conditions can help free up our GPs’ time, making it easier to get an appointment when you have a more serious condition.

Your pharmacist can help too

Pharmacists are highly trained health professionals and can give you confidential health advice for a range of common illnesses and complaints.

Don’t wait for a GP appointment for coughs, colds, aches and pains. Just call your local pharmacy a call or drop in – there’s no need to make an appointment.

Your pharmacists can also help you decide if you need to see a doctor or nurse.

Click here for more information about how pharmacies can help you.

NHS 111

111 is the free NHS non-emergency service.

You should use the NHS 111 service if you urgently need medical help or advice but it’s not a life-threatening situation.

Visit www.111.nhs.uk or Call 111 if:

  • you need medical help fast but it’s not a 999 emergency
  • you think you need to go to A&E or need another NHS urgent care service
  • you don’t know who to call or you don’t have a GP to call
  • you need health information or reassurance about what to do next

Click here for more information about how NHS 111 can help you.

Urgent Care Center, Great Western Hospital – 01793 646436

The nurse practitioners based in the walk in centre can deal with most urgent health problems in people of any age. You can walk in for an appointment at the following address

Urgent Care Center

Great Western Hospital
Marlborough Road
Swindon
SN3 6BB

Minor Injury Units

Minor Injury Unit Cirencester – 0300 421 6351

Cirencester Hospital
GL7 1UY

If you have a minor injury you can attend the Minor Injury Unit in Cirencester without an appointment.

Opening Hours: 8am to 11pm – 365 days a year

Minor Injury Unit Chippenham – 01249 456403

Chippenham Community Hospital
SN15 2AJ

If you have a minor injury you can attend the Minor Injury Unit in Chippenham without an appointment

Opening Hours: 7am to 11pm – 365 days a year

Other services

Mental Health Problems – 01793 835787

If you already have a mental health problem & see the mental health team, if you have a crisis you can contact them at any time.

Urgent Social Problems – 0800 0856 666

This may include problems coping or caring for yourself at home if you are elderly or disabled. Help is available from Social Services. You can contact them directly on 0800 0856666 (Office Hours) or 01793 436699 (Other Times).

Urgent Dental Problems – 111

If you have an urgent problem such as toothache or a dental abscess you should see a dentist not your GP.

If you have a regular dentist you should telephone them & arrange an urgent appointment. If they are closed there should be an answerphone message with the phone number of the local dentist covering emergencies. If not, the telephone number is 0300 111 5717. If you have trouble getting through phone NHS 111.

If you have no regular dentist you should telephone a Dental Access Clinic 01793 428580 (West Swindon Health Centre). The opening times are Monday to Friday 8.45 – 11.45am & 1.15 – 4.15pm. If the phone line closed you can ring 0300 111 5717 for emergencies involving dental pain, or NHS 111.

A&E

A&E is for life-threatening accidents and emergencies only. Before you go there, ask yourself, “Is it a real emergency?”

If not, please consider using other local health services before you visit A&E.

Looking after a sick child. How to recognise the signs and knowing what to do.

The ‘Little Orange Book’ is a helpful resource providing useful tips and advice on managing common illnesses in Children up to the age of 5. Using a traffic light system, ... [continue] Looking after a sick child. How to recognise the signs and knowing what to do.

Date published: 17th February, 2017
Date last updated: 21st December, 2022