For Dr Simon Smail, good general practice begins with something very simple: taking the time to listen.
As Medical Director and co-founder of Evergreen Medical & Wellness Clinic in Morningside, Edinburgh, Simon provides personalised, evidence-led private GP care with the time and space to understand the whole picture.
Rather than feeling rushed through an appointment or treated as a collection of individual symptoms, patients have the opportunity to explain what is concerning them, discuss their wider health and understand the options available to them.
“People do not always come to see a GP with one neat symptom and one straightforward question,” Simon explains. “Often there are several things happening at once. My job is to listen, understand the wider picture and help the patient decide what genuinely needs investigated or treated.”
An Experienced Private GP in Edinburgh
Simon is an experienced GP who has worked across NHS general practice, Defence Primary Healthcare, occupational health, medical education and private medicine.
His qualifications include Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners, the Diploma in Occupational Medicine, the Diploma of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Diploma in Geriatric Medicine and a postgraduate certificate in medical education.
He also completed a Master of Science degree with Distinction at Queen Mary University of London’s Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry (Barts and The London).
His work as a GP trainer and medical educator has also shaped his approach to patient care. Simon believes patients should leave a consultation understanding what may be happening, what their options are and why a particular course of action has been recommended.
Personalised Private GP Care in Morningside
One of Simon’s main motivations for establishing Evergreen was to offer a more personal model of private GP care in Edinburgh.
Patients are not necessarily looking for an exhaustive set of tests. Often, they are looking for a doctor who takes the time to understand their history and concerns and can help them make informed decisions about their health.
This can be particularly valuable for people experiencing several medical problems, persistent symptoms, uncertainty around a diagnosis or conflicting advice from different sources.
Simon regularly sees patients who say they simply do not feel like themselves. Their concerns may involve tiredness, sleep, mood, digestion, hormonal changes, weight, pain or a general feeling that something has changed.
These consultations require a careful balance. Symptoms should not be dismissed simply because initial investigations are normal. At the same time, more testing is not always better and can sometimes create further uncertainty without improving a patient's health.
Why Continuity of GP Care Matters
Although technology, diagnostic testing and medical treatments continue to develop, Simon believes the relationship between a patient and their doctor remains central to good healthcare.
A GP who knows a patient over time can build an understanding of their medical history, recognise changes and help them navigate health decisions as their needs evolve.
Continuity also allows preventative healthcare to become an ongoing conversation rather than a single health check.
“Some of the most useful consultations are not about making a dramatic diagnosis,” Simon says. “They are about helping somebody understand their health, reassuring them appropriately and agreeing a sensible plan for what happens next.”
That is the type of medicine Simon and the wider team are building at Evergreen: personal, thoughtful and evidence-led, with the time to see the whole person.
Book a Private GP Appointment with Dr Simon Smail in Edinburgh
Dr Simon Smail offers private GP appointments at Evergreen Medical & Wellness Clinic in Morningside, Edinburgh.
Appointments can cover:
- New or ongoing symptoms
- General health concerns
- Preventative healthcare
- Private health checks
- Cardiovascular and metabolic health
- Weight management
- Health screening
- Medication reviews
- A broader review of your health and wellbeing
If you would like more time to discuss your health with an experienced private GP, you can book an appointment with Dr Simon Smail online or contact the Evergreen team for further information.