Biggar Medical Practice

29/08/2025

The practice would like to advise patients that following the recent outage, all its systems are almost back online. Please therefore contact the practice as normal should you require to make an appointment or enquiry. It is anticipated that it will take a little longer to process the back log of requests & results that are expected, given that many patients haven't had online access for a couple of days. Consequently, additional support has been sourced for next Monday and Tuesday to minimise any delays for patients who are awaiting the turnaround of prescription requests. The practice would like to thank all its patients for their support during the recent disruption to its services.

27/08/2025

URGENT PATIENT UPDATE:

Following the IT issues that have been experienced today at the practice and across the area, we have been advised that due to the level of repair required to damaged fibre cabling, there is the possibility that the problem won't be rectified until the weekend. The practice will advise patients as soon as this issue is resolved. Please note the following....

Appointments that have already been made, remain in the system. We have manual copies of each so please attend the practice as per normal. Please however let reception know as the check in screen will be unavailable.

For on the day care, if symptoms are of an urgent nature please call 01899 220383 upon which a message will advise whether the system is back up and running. If not the practice will operate a walk in service for urgent cases only. As our phone system is WiFi based it means that we are unable to see or answer calls, even if they are in the call queue.

The outage has also affected our ability to manage prescriptions. If you have concerns please attend the practice where our advisors will endeavour to assist.

We would like to apologise for the disruption and will advise patients as soon as possible when our systems are back online.

27/08/2025

The IT issues experienced by the practice earlier this week have occurred again this morning. This means we have no online access to e-mails and Telephones may also be compromised. We are not sure if this is as a result of the same problem as before as the WiFi seems to be out on a wider scale locally.

25/08/2025

The Practice would like to advise patients that the network that supports our phone and IT systems is experiencing a drop in service. This may mean that patients have trouble getting connected to an advisor. The issue has been reported and we hope it will be resolved soon. We apologise for the inconvenience caused to our patients.

12/08/2025

The practice would like to remind patients that it will be taking part in NHS Lanarkshire's Protected Learning Time, for all staff. Consequently the practice will be closed from 2pm to 6pm on Wednesday 20th August.

During that time, if you require acute or urgent medical attention please call the practice as usual and you will be diverted to dedicated call handlers who will triage you to the most appropriate person. For routine enquiries such as blood results or repeat prescriptions, please call when the practice re-opens. Thank you.

24/07/2025

The Practice would like to advise patients that is has been experiencing a number of intermittent network issues this morning, which is affecting access to systems, and incoming phone calls. Consequently this has resulted in patients being cut off whilst in the queue. The issue has been reported and is awaiting resolution. Our apologies to patients for the inconvenience this has caused.

16/07/2025

Plan Ahead for the Bank Holiday on Monday 21 July.

Most Lanarkshire patients already order their repeat prescriptions in good time. Thank you — this keeps urgent NHS services available when they’re needed most.

Our Out of Hours service will issue emergency prescriptions for essential medicines only (for example insulin, inhalers for acute asthma, palliative care pain relief or epilepsy treatment).

Need a routine prescription? Plan ahead and order your repeat prescriptions in time to ensure you have a supply over the bank holiday.

Thank you for planning ahead and helping us help you.

30/06/2025

19/06/2025

Appointments update:

The practice would like to advise patients that it has experienced high levels of unplanned clinical absence during the last few weeks, which is expected to continue. Whilst current clinical teams have worked additional hours to support demand, regrettably the number of pre-bookable appointments has been affected. Further clinical resource has been sourced and started this week to support demand, and it is therefore expected that availability of pre-bookable appointments will begin to improve. Urgent on the day appointments have been unaffected, and the practice would like to apologise to patients for any inconvenience caused.

23/05/2025

Plan Ahead for the May Bank Holiday
Most Lanarkshire patients already order their repeat prescriptions in good time. Thank you—this keeps urgent NHS services available when they’re needed most.

Our Out of Hours service will issue emergency prescriptions for essential medicines only (for example insulin, inhalers for acute asthma, palliative care pain relief or epilepsy treatment).

Need a routine prescription? Plan ahead and order your repeat prescriptions in time to ensure you have a supply over the bank holiday.

Thank you for planning ahead and helping us help you.

14/05/2025

The practice would like to advise patients that the initial phase of its text messaging service will launch on Wednesday the 14th May. All patients who have a registered mobile phone number with the practice will receive the following message after 2pm on the day of launch. The message will be as follows....

“Biggar Medical Practice is starting a text messaging service to contact patients. If you would like to use this service please DO NOT reply to this message. If you would prefer not to be contacted by text, please reply to this message with the word STOP."

If patients respond “STOP” they will not receive any messages by text. If they change their mind, they can sign up for the service in the future by e-mailing the practice."

Patients who have elected to use the service will then begin receiving text message alerts for the following…

• Appointment reminders & changes
• Invites for long term health condition reviews
• Updates following test results, whether normal or follow up is required.

Further details can be found on the practice website using the attached link. Please note that as part of this service Biggar Medical Practice will never request any of your personal data or medical records information.

08/05/2025

The Practice would like to advise patients that it will be launching a patient text message service. This will allow patients to receive updates regarding appointments as well as other notifications. Consequently patients will receive a text message from the practice next week advising them of the service and whether they wish to consent to its use. Further details will be posted on the practice website and page early next week.