Auchtermuchty Health Centre

07/01/2026

Happy New Year 🎉

As we welcome the New Year, we would like to take a moment to reflect on some key highlights from 2025.

One of the most significant milestones for our practice was welcoming Dr Eastwood as a new GP Partner. This important addition strengthens our leadership team and supports our long-term vision for the practice. Having a new GP Partner in place also enabled our existing GP Partners to gradually reduce their in-practice hours as part of our succession planning, helping to safeguard the future of Auchtermuchty Health Centre.

Another important addition was the arrival of a new salaried GP, Dr Esslemont, at the end of 2024, who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, and has been a fantastic complement to our Clinical Care Team. Together, these developments help us to continue to provide high-quality, sustainable care for our patients.

We were all delighted to welcome back Isla in 2025, one of our Admin Team, who had been on long-term sick following her Leukaemia diagnosis and treatment.

One of the Admin Team welcomed a beautiful baby in January 2025, and returns to work this month following her maternity leave.

We recognise that General Practice continues to face significant challenges, and we remain committed to working hard to provide the best possible service for our patients, despite the ongoing pressures of limited funding and resources.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our patients for their continued support, and would like to wish you all health and happiness in 2026.

30/12/2025

📢 January Nurse Clinics – Book Now

We’re pleased to let you know that we have a locum Practice Nurse available throughout January.
If you:

✅ Received your Cervical Smear recall
✅ Are due your annual Asthma Review
✅ Are due your annual COPD Review
✅ Would like to discuss Woman’s Health

☎️ Please call the practice to schedule your appointment.

👉 Appointments are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so don’t delay.

24/12/2025

All the staff at Auchtermuchty Health Centre would like to wish our patients and their families a Merry Christmas 🎅

The practice will re-open Monday 29th December at 08:00 🎄

17/12/2025

CHRISTMAS TIME 🎄

The reality is that people experience a wide range of emotions during Christmas, including stress, sadness and anxiety.

Christmas can be tough, but you can cope by setting boundaries, prioritising self-care (sleep, walks, hobbies), managing expectations, and connecting with supportive people, remembering it's okay to say "no" and that the perfect Christmas isn't real.

Focus on meaningful moments, not perfection, and consider reaching out to the resources below if you find yourself struggling ⬇️

09/12/2025

🎄✨ Stay Well This Winter – From Auchtermuchty Health Centre ✨🎄

Cold weather is here, so let’s keep ourselves and our community healthy💙

✅ Get your winter vaccines
Flu & COVID-19 vaccines protect you and those around you. Book now:

👉 nhsinform.scot/winter-vaccinations
☎️ 0800 030 8013

🏠 Stay home if you’re unwell
If you have a cough, fever, or feel poorly, please don’t visit hospitals or care homes.

Rest, recover, and help stop the spread.
👉 https://www.nhsfife.org/winter

🧼 Wash your hands often
Good hand hygiene = fewer germs! Use soap & water or hand gel.
Catch it, bin it, kill it! 🤧

💊 Stock up on essentials
Keep paracetamol, ibuprofen, and cold remedies at home for common winter bugs.

📦 Prescription Reminder – Plan Ahead!
Our practice will be closed for Christmas & New Year:

🎅 Thu 25 Dec & Fri 26 Dec
🎉 Thu 1 Jan & Fri 2 Jan

Order your repeat prescriptions at least 7 days early so you’re not caught short.

👉 nhsinform.scot/public-holidays

📌 Useful Links
🌐 https://www.nhsinform.scot/winter
🌐 https://www.nhsfife.org/winter
🌐 https://www.nhs24.scot/

09/11/2025

We will be closed 13:00-18:00 for training on Tuesday 11th November.

We will re-open at 08:00 on Wednesday 12th November.

Some GP practices are taking part in a Protected Learning Time session on Tuesday 11 November between 1pm and 6pm.

Practices take part in a number of sessions throughout the year to allow staff to access training. During this time:

▶️ patients requiring urgent care should call 01592 729 250
▶️ appointments should attend unless advised otherwise
▶️ pharmacies should call 01592 729 250 for urgent enquiries

Access to urgent care for patients of surgeries taking part will continue throughout. More: https://brnw.ch/21wXfGI

29/10/2025

Today is World Stroke Day.

A stroke can happen to anyone, at any time, and it’s crucial to understand the signs and how to respond swiftly.
The acronym BEFAST is an easy way to remember the sudden signs of a stroke:

😀Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
🙋‍♀️Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
🗣Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
⏰Time: If you observe any of these signs, call emergency services immediately.

📞Any one of these symptoms could be a stroke. Every second counts. Call 999

08/10/2025

Fantastic resources available.

Access Therapies Fife is part of our psychology service and offers a range of free therapies.

They can help provide people with the information and skills they need to improve mental wellbeing.

Parent groups include:

✔️ Child Healthy Weight Workshops
✔️ Embracing Difference
✔️ Parent ADHD courses
✔️ Parenting an Anxious Child
✔️ Parent Awareness of Developing Differently (PADD)
✔️ Parent Awareness of Learning Disabilities Support Group (PALS)
✔️ Parent Awareness Programme for Autism Support (PAPAS)
✔️ Social Stories
✔️ Understanding Kids
✔️ Understanding Teens

For more information on parent groups, please visit: https://brnw.ch/21wWpO4

03/10/2025

The practice will be closed on Monday 6th October for the public holiday. We will re-open on Tuesday 7th October at 08:00.

If you have an urgent medical problem whilst the practice is closed, please contact Out of Hours on 111. For any life threatening emergencies please contact 999.

11/09/2025

Auchtermuchty Health Centre will be using the closure to participate in a Cardiovascular (CVD) Risk Assessment Clinic.

The practice will only be open to those who have been allocated an appointment at this clinic.

Any patient who does not have an appointment at the CVD Clinic should not attend the practice.

Normal service will resume from Friday 19th September at 8am.

GP practices in Fife are taking part in a Protected Learning Time session on Thursday 18 September between 1pm and 6pm.

Practices take part in a number of sessions throughout the year to allow staff to access training. During this time:

▶️ patients requiring urgent care should call: 01592 729 250
▶️ those with appointments should attend unless advised otherwise
▶️ pharmacies should call: 01592 729250 for urgent enquiries

Access to urgent care for patients of surgeries taking part will continue throughout this time. GP surgeries will resume their usual working hours again on Friday 19 September.

More: https://brnw.ch/21wVFeN

04/09/2025

Fantastic opportunity to join the team. Flexible hours of work considered and salary in keeping with AFC.

NHS Scotland's Counter Fraud Service has become aware of potential approaches to individuals which result in requests for payments in connection with applications. You will never need to make any form of payment to apply for an advertised post.

20/08/2025

Cardiovascular (CVD) Risk Assessment

Background

In Scotland, Cardiovascular disease is the second largest cause of overall disease burden in our country, and the second most common cause of death after cancer. It causes more than 25% of all deaths in Scotland, many of which are in the under 75 years category and considered avoidable deaths.

This means that they are preventable or treatable through public health interventions or timely and effective healthcare.

To address this issue, the Scottish Government have commenced a national CVD Risk Factors Programme. Their aim is to reduce avoidable CVD deaths by 20% in 20 years.

What we are doing

Auchtermuchty Health Centre is taking part in a new national programme focusing on improving identification and management of clinical risk factors for Cardiovascular Disease.

We are contacting a small group of our patients aged between the ages of 35 – 60, who meet the criteria, to be invited for this health check.

As part of this appointment the clinician will check:

Blood Pressure
Bloods for Cholesterol & Diabetes
Smoking Status
Weight and Waist Circumference

You will be given an information pack and lifestyle advice at your appointment.

Using the blood results and information taken at your appointment a risk assessment will be carried out to assess your risk of developing a problem with your heart in the future.

We will invite eligible patients to our Heart Health Clinic, by sending a text message, telephoning, or inviting them by letter.

We would encourage you to respond to any invitation received.

Initially we will target a smaller group of patients but this may be rolled out to more patients in the coming years.