Cwm Taf Bank holiday GP out-of-hours arrangements

Cwm Taf University Health Board are reminding patients to order their repeat medicines before the Spring bank holiday weekend and not leave themselves in a position where they will run out.

GP practices will open as usual on Friday 27^th May and will be closed on Monday 30th May.  They will re-open as normal on Tuesday 31^st May. Patients are advised to check they have sufficient prescription medicines for the bank holiday and to deal with any routine medical problems before the GP practices close for the break.

 

The Cwm Taf GP out-of-hours service will be operational from 6.30pm on Friday 27th May until 8.00am on Tuesday 31st May but it is designed to deal with patients with urgent medical conditions only.  Urgent medical conditions are those which cannot wait to be dealt with until the patient’s own GP surgery re-opens.

 

Dr Sanjeet Rao, Clinical Lead for the Cwm Taf University Health Board GP out-of-hours service, said: “Please make sure that routine problems or problems that may become urgent are dealt with by your own GP, if possible before the bank holiday.

 

“Visiting your own GP will be safer and better for you as your GP has access to your full health records and is supported by the GP practice staff. Also, your own GP can, if needed, arrange blood tests, X rays and referral to a hospital specialist.

 

“This also means the out-of-hours service will not have to deal with routine GP work and can concentrate on helping those patients who may have more urgent health problems.”

 

Patients who contact the Cwm Taf GP out-of-hours service may be given advice about self-care over the phone or they may be given an appointment for a face-to-face consultation at a primary care centre.  Those patients who are terminally ill or elderly patients who are seriously unwell will be seen at home.”

Dr Rao added: “Please remember, you can get advice and treatment for many minor illnesses from your local pharmacy.”

 

If you are suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting symptoms please do not go to A&E. The Cwm Taf website contains advice about how to recognise and manage symptoms. For more advice contact NHS Direct Wales on 0845 46 47.

 

Advice to help you stay well over the bank holiday period:

Repeat prescriptions – Help your GP to spend time on more serious cases by ordering repeat prescriptions in advance of the bank holiday.

Ask your pharmacist – local community pharmacists can provide advice and treatment for many minor or self-limiting conditions along with advice about any ongoing medication.

NHS Direct Wales – If you need information and advice about health, illness and health services (including phone numbers and opening times) to enable you to make decisions about your healthcare and that of your family, contact NHS Direct Wales on 0845 46 47.