Are you ready for the Bank Holiday?
With the bank holiday coming up patients are asked to deal with any health problems before they become urgent and before GP surgeries close for the Bank Holiday.
They are also being advised to check they have sufficient prescription medicines to see them through the late May bank holiday period but not ordering medication they do not need. GP practices will be open as usual on Friday 25th May and will be closed on Monday 28th May.
Patients are advised to check they have sufficient prescription medicines for the holiday and to deal with any routine medical problems before the GP practices close for the bank holiday break.
The Cwm Taf GP out-of-hours service will be operational from 6.30pm on Friday 25th May until Tuesday 29thth May at 8am but the service 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 Shallini Subbu, 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 Subbu added: “The Cwm Taf GP out-of-hours service provides medical advice and treatment for urgent healthcare problems only – this means advice and treatment for problems which the patient, or their carer, feels can’t safely wait until their own GP practice is next open.
Dr Subbu also added: “And 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.
