Medical

Temporary residents and visitors

The Small Isles Medical Practice is based on Eigg and can provide treatment for temporary residents and visitors to the isles of Eigg, Rum, Muck and Canna. This applies mainly to acute and emergency treatment. Routine treatment should, where possible, be obtained from the GP with whom the patient is registered.  

There is no resident doctor in the Small Isles, but a Doctor visit Eigg every week (on Tuesdays) and Muck, Canna and Rum every other week (Thursdays), weather permitting. The surgery practice manager is in the surgery between 9.00am and 12 noon weekdays, when appointments can be made to see the GP when they are on the islands.

The practice is self-dispensing, but only stocks a limited amount of drugs. There are emergency drugs held on the other islands that can under GP instruction be dispensed where necessary. Where possible, the patient should bring his/her own regular medication for the duration of his/her stay. If certain repeat medication needs to be obtained on the islands, sufficient time should be allowed for the practice to order and dispense the meds, this can take a few days. The patient will be asked to sign the back of the prescription form. The patient will also be asked to provide his/her name, date of birth and address as well as details of his/her own GP.

THE SMALL ISLES MEDICAL PRACTICE, ISLE OF EIGG PH42 4RL
Practice Administrator/dispenser:  Sheena Kean

Consultation Times on Eigg: by appointment only
Every Tuesday : 1000 to 1500
Every second Thursday : 1000 to 1500

Surgery tel. 01687 482427, Fax. 01687 482415, Mob. 07900 051 685 

In addition to repeat prescription medicines, it is also worthwhile making sure you have with you basic first aid supplies, sunscreen, painkillers (especially ones suitable for children), hay fever/allergy medication, antiseptic creams and suitable dressings.

Out of Hours Services

Core hours: 8.00am to 6pm on weekdays.  Out of Hours: 6pm to 8.00am Mon-Fri, weekends and public holidays (Christmas, New Year and Easter holidays)

For all emergencies considered to be life threatening call 999. Tell the emergency services you are on an island.

For urgent but not life threatening emergencies if you call (01687) 482427, during out of hours your call will be directed to Broadford Surgery, Isle of Skye, then you will hear a message asking you to call either 999 or 111(NHS24).  Nurses, dentists, pharmacists and A&E are not locally accessible.  If you are referred to one of the above services you should explain that this is the case.

You can call NHS24 directly by dialling 111 or go to www.nhs24.com

Emergency services

There is no ambulance or district nurse on the islands, although there are  teams of First responders on Eigg and Muck in case of emergency.  

If you are uncertain about the urgency of your case, please phone for advice or phone NHS24 on 08454 24 24 24 (www.nhs24.com) (available out of hours 6PM - 8AM and weekends).

When there is an emergency, Dial 999 or 112 , stressing that you are in a remote island location and follow the advice of the emercency services controller.  They will despatch the First responders team who are trained to deal with evacuation of patients if necessary.

Evacuation of patients to hospital will be arranged, according to needs and circumstances, by regular ferry, air ambulance, lifeboat, coastguard helicopter or private charter (the costs of private charter will be covered by the Scottish Ambulance Service if this has been agreed with the First Responder team). The nearest road ambulance is stationed in Mallaig. 

First Aid Kit

Visitors should also be advised to have a first aid kit.  A basic first aid kit may contain.

• plasters, in a variety of different sizes and shapes
• small, medium and large sterile gauze dressings 
• at least two sterile eye dressings 
• triangular bandages, crêpe rolled bandages 
• disposable sterile gloves 
• tweezers, tick removers
• scissors, alcohol-free cleansing wipes, sticky tape, safety pins
• thermometer, preferably digital 
• sun cream/screen
• skin rash cream, such as hydrocortisone or calendula 
• cream or spray to relieve insect bites and stings 
• antiseptic cream, midge repellant
• painkillers such as paracetamol (or infant paracetamol for children), aspirin (not to be given to children under 16), or ibuprofen. 
• cough medicine 
• antihistamine tablets 
• distilled water, for cleaning wounds, eye wash and eye bath. A basic first aid manual or instruction booklet should be kept with your first aid kit.

Police

The local police station is based in Mallaig, (post Code PH41 4PX). Telephone number is 01687 462177 but if it is an emergency, CALL 999.

Coastguard

Each of the 4 Small Isles has a Coastguard team.  All teams are administratively responsible to Stornoway Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, (MRCC), through their operations room located at Clan Macquarrie House, Battery Point, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis. 

The Emergency contact number for the nearest coastguard is 999.