APPOINTMENTS BOOKABLE UP TO 4 WEEKS IN ADVANCE
Our doors are open to patients who have a pre-booked face to face appointment. Phone and face to face appointments may be requested up to 4 weeks in advance. Please do not come into the Health Centre unless you have a pre-booked appointment
Reception Staff will be triaging all patients. Please expect to be asked about the reason for your call. This is so we can safely care for all of our patients
Please continue to call 111 out of hours if you require urgent advice that cannot wait or 999 if it is an emergency (e.g. suspected heart attack, stroke, serious breathing difficulties or severe bleeding)
For Health Board Services at the Health Centre, including TREATMENT ROOM, DISTRICT NURSES AND MIDWIVES,
please call 01573 223001
VACCINATION INFORMATION
Vaccination/Immunisation Programmes
NHS Borders has taken on the responsibility of arranging and administering the following vaccinations at NHS Borders run clinics:
Babies & pre-school Immunisations | NHS Borders Child Health team | 01896 825 531 |
2 – 5 Year olds Flu Vaccinations | NHS Borders Vaccination Hub | 01896 809 250 |
School Vaccinations | NHS Borders School Immunisation Team | 01896 661 932 |
Shingles & pneumococcal Vaccinations | NHS Borders Vaccination Hub | 01896 809 250 |
Travel Vaccinations | NHS Borders Vaccination Hub | 01896 809 250 |
Flu and COVID Vaccinations | National Vaccination line | 0800 030 8013 |
Further information relating to vaccinations in the Borders can be found here www.nhsborders.scot.nhs.uk/vaccinations
Patients will receive postal letters with their allocated vaccination appointment directly from the NHS Borders
Note - the national vaccination/immunisation programmes are no longer delivered by GPs/Health Centres, so please do not contact Kelso Medical Group Practice regarding them as we will not be able to assist you
If you have any queries or need to rearrange a vaccination appointment please call the appropriate telephone help line number listed above where NHS staff will be on hand to help you with the information you require or to reschedule a new appointment if the appointment posted out to you is unsuitable
Covid vaccinations are now offered to 5-11 year olds - please watch this video for more information about your child and the Covid vaccine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAE7ylm0t3s
The national ‘Fit for Travel’ website will be updated with enhanced patient advice and self-risk assessment pathways. A ‘what next’ section will direct patients to the NHS Borders Vaccination Hub or directly to community pharmacies, please click Fit for Travel Information. More general information about travel vaccination can be found here: Travel Vaccinations
COVID VACCINATION PASSPORT & EXEMPTION CERTIFICATES
The Scottish Government has released the following information in relation to COVID Vaccine certification. You can download your certificate from the site below:
COVID Vaccination Certificate/Passport
Please note, GPs are unable to provide exemption certificates. Please see the below information from the Chief Medical Officer for Scotland:
St Andrew’s House, Regent Road, Edinburgh EH1 3DG www.gov.scot
Covid Vaccination Exemption Certificates - Important Notice
GPs and their teams cannot issue vaccination exemption certificates.
Further information on the vaccination exemption certificates scheme, including information on safe vaccination and routes to obtain an exemption can be found on the Scottish Government and NHS Inform websites.
Alternatively you can phone the free NHS Covid helpline on: 0808 196 8565
Dr Gregor Smith
Chief Medical Officer
LONG COVID RESOURCE
If you feel you may have Long Covid, you may find this link helpful: Long Covid Resource
NHS BORDERS SCREENING PROGRAMMES, FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENTS & WAITING TIMES
Between screening appointments or as you wait for your rescheduled screening appointment, be aware of any symptoms or signs of the conditions we screen for. If you have any of the symptoms contact our reception team on 01573 224424 for an appointment with a doctor
For information on current screening programmes please visit www.nhsinform.scot/screeningupdate
Understandably we are receiving queries regarding out-patient appointments, follow-up appointments and waiting list times at BGH. Unfortunately, we do not have access to or influence over BGH appointment booking systems, so we request that you contact BGH Outpatients directly if you have queries about your appointment or expected waiting list times on 01896 826756. Alternatively, the NHS Borders website can give up to date information about expected waiting times at www.nhsborders.scot.nhs.uk/waitingtimes
KELSO RUGBY MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE
As part of Kelso Rugby Mental Health Initiative, this short video was made for TV. If you are affected by any issues raised in this film, please call to speak to a member of our team
Kelso Rugby Mental Health Initiative
TEXT MESSAGE ALERT SERVICE
We can use text messaging to contact you for the following:
- Confirmation of appointment date/time
- Appointment date/time reminders
- Information and updates about the Practice
- Unavoidable short notice cancellations
If you would like to receive text messages please make sure that we have your mobile number. You can update your details by emailing us at contact.kelsohc@borders.scot.nhs.uk
‘Are you an unpaid carer? The Scottish Borders Health and Social Care Partnership are reaching out to unpaid carers across the Borders to ask them to complete a short questionnaire which will help us identify their needs, and what matters most to them. This will help us make informed decisions about the services that unpaid carers may need to support them in their caring role.
You have until 17 July to complete the survey. Click here: https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nhsborders.scot.nhs.uk%2Fget-involved%2Fcarer-needs-assessment-consultation%2F&data=05%7C01%7CKatie.Cathrow2%40borders.scot.nhs.uk%7C12b56827fca44f6664c608da505e9a13%7C10efe0bda0304bca809cb5e6745e499a%7C0%7C0%7C637910664647214457%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=zQqKHcJoLllEd%2BtiS8BCcNhA%2FnyK8zOyN49JXFihXPI%3D&reserved=0