Steroid injections can be very effective but should be used with other treatments. There is also some evidence that steroid injections may be either completely ineffective or effective for just a relatively short period of me.

Other treatments may include medicines for pain relief and physiotherapy, depending on the underlying condition.

The side effects from steroid injections are uncommon; however, the injected area may be sore for the first few days after the injection.

Continue reading about Steroid Injections.

General Nursing

The Practice Nurses are responsible for many lifestyle clinics and are also Involved In taking electrocardiograms (ECGs) and blood tests. They carry out a wide variety of clinics Including epilepsy, smear, blood pressure, International Normalised Ratio (INR), pill review and asthma.

Specialist Practice Nursing

They are responsible for the care of people with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (emphysema and bronchitis), Diabetes and high blood pressure. These conditions should be monitored regularly and the specialist practice nurses can offer diagnostic testing, monitoring, support and advice. Clinics are run in Inverurie and Kintore.

Treatment Room Nurses

They provide a wide range of services in the health centre including wound dressing, immunisations, management of minor problems and injuries plus urine testing. Appointments can be made through the receptionists.

Appointments are available, clinics are run by our Practice Nurses.

The Phlebotomists run clinics daily for blood tests, International Normalised Ratios (INRs) and blood pressure tests.

Insurance, Large Goods Vehicle (LGV), Passenger Service Vehicle (PSV), driving medicals etc have dedicated appointments outwith normal GP clinics. Please forward relevant paperwork and a member of the team will be in touch to advise if this can be carried out and to arrange an appointment.

Almost all reports, medicals and certificates done outwith General Medical Services will attract a fee.

Please contact the Practice for information.

An influenza vaccination is particularly recommended for patients with heart, lung or kidney disease, diabetes and residents of nursing and care homes.

The way the flu vaccination is delivered in Grampian is set for significant change this year, as the location for immunisation shifts from GP Practices to dedicated clinics.

The Family Health Team hold immunisation clinics, child assessment clinics and child health clinics at Inverurie Health Centre.  There are also additional parenting and postnatal clinics held. Enuresis clinics are by prior arrangement with the patient.

NB: Immunisation, assessments, hearing/eye checks are by appointment only.

Cardiac review clinic is run by two specially trained nurses.

Appointments are available at Inverurie and Kintore.

What is NHS Connect Me?

NHS Connect Me, combines the expertise of healthcare professionals with the convenience of supporting patients to easily send in their blood pressure readings from wherever they are, while helping them to keep their blood pressure at safe levels. NHS Connect Me is supplied by Inhealthcare.

Patients can choose to use the Inhealthcare app, text messaging or an automated phone call and NHS Connect Me will sends prompts to patients, reminding them to check and submit their blood pressure readings.

The program will collate the readings provided by the patient and can be accessed by the clinician at any stage of the process.

NHS Connect Me can also send patients advice to act on or ask the patient health related questions and give health promotion messages.

The service, including any ‘SMS’ text messaging, is completely free of charge to patients.

What are the benefits of using NHS Connect Me to Monitor Blood Pressure?

• NHS Connect Me gives clinicians the opportunity to monitor patients’ blood pressure remotely, reducing the number of face-to-face appointments required to diagnose, titrate, or monitor hypertension.
• NHS Connect Me gives patients the opportunity to have their blood pressure monitored by the practice without having to attend the surgery, reducing inconvenience and travel cost.
• NHS Connect Me can remove white coat syndrome, optimising readings, and clinical decision-making.
• NHS Connect Me allows patients to understand their own condition and make lifestyle changes or seek medical advice as required to allow them to maintain longer, healthier lives. In short it can motivate patients to self-manage.
• Studies show long term hypertension monitoring at home encourages medication compliance and therefore reduces the risk of stroke and heart attack.

A nationally produced video to support the NHS Connect Me programme can be viewed via the following link: NHS Connect Me.

The British Heart foundation also provides a ‘how to’ video to Managing your Blood Pressure at home: Managing your blood pressure at home.

We encourage patients to purchase a home blood pressure device for self-management of their blood pressure monitoring. Further information on validated home blood pressure monitors can be found on The British and Irish Hypertension Society website

Reviews are performed remotely via eConsult or telephone with our Asthma Nurses. You will be sent a letter when your recall is due, please read this carefully as services have changed.

If you would like to receive information via SMS (Text) message in the future please contact the surgery.

Annual Asthma Review

This is for patients who are due an annual asthma review. You can use our online eConsult form to submit your asthma review to us, or if you are unable to do this, call the health centre and press Option 2 to speak to our reception team about arranging an asthma telephone review appointment.

If your symptoms are deteriorating or you have any concerns about your asthma please call the health centre and press Option 3 to speak to a GP, or call 111 if you have any symptoms of a new cough OR a fever OR a change or loss in your sense of taste or smell.