**CHANGE IN DISPENSARY OPENING HOURS FOR COMING WEEK**

The dispensary opening times will vary in the following week only (18/04/22 - 23/04/22)

The opening hours are as follows:

Monday 18^th April   -   Closed

Tuesday 19^th April    -   9 – 5pm

Wednesday 20^th April    -   8 – 6pm

Thursday 21^st April    -      9 – 5pm

Friday 22^nd April     -   9 – 5pm

From the 23rd April, dispensary opening hours will revert to the normal opening hours.

Change to GP Appointments

We will be making some changes to the way we book Doctors appointments in the near future, in line with Welsh Government updates.

Moving forward we will cease the 'guaranteed on the day booking for patients phoning between 8:00 - 10:00am'.

Please contact us in the usual way but once our appointments are full, we may have to ask you to call a different day.

We are looking at ways to improve our service, please be patient as we make changes in the coming months.

Many Thanks.

Surgery App

We are launching the Surgery App in our surgery. Further Information about the functionalities of this app can be found by watching the following video.                                            

A link to download the app can be found below.

• Apple – https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id1531847382
• Android – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.mysurgeryapp.app

Visit us on Facebook

We have recently launched our Practice Facebook Page. Please follow the link to get all the latest news and local health updates 

CHANGE IN HOURS

Please be aware that from 1st January 2022 we will cease our Extended Hours service. As you may know we have opened up late on a Monday evening (until 19:00)and opened up early on a Friday morning (07:30). Due to a change made by the health board this service will no longer be available.

We will be open on the above days in line with the rest of the week.

FLU & COVID BOOSTERS

COVID BOOSTERS - We have completed our work on the COVID booster campaign. Any patients still requiring a booster should contact the ABUHB Mass Vaccination Centre Team on

Tel: 030 030 31373.

FLU VACCINES - We have completed our Flu Vaccine clinics for the season. Patients still requiring a flu vaccine should contact us for further guidance.

Why does the receptionist ask what's wrong with me?

The reception staff are members of the practice team and it has been agreed they should ask patients 'why they need to be seen'.  Reception staff are trained to ask certain questions in order to ensure that you receive; the most appropriate medical care, from the most appropriate health professional, at the most appropriate time.

Receptionists are asked to collect brief information from patients; to help doctors prioritise house visits and phone calls, to ensure that all patients receive the appropriate level of care, to direct patients to see the nurse or other health professional rather than a doctor where appropriate.

Reception staff like all members of the team are bound by confidentiality rules; any information given by you is treated strictly confidentially, the practice would take any breach of confidentiality very seriously and deal with accordingly, you can ask to speak to a receptionist in private away from reception, however if you feel an issue is very private and do not wish to say what this is then this will be respected.

Carers 

As a surgery we are interested in identifying and helping Carers, especially those people who may be caring without help or support.  Caring for someone is an important and valuable role in the community, which is often a 24 hour job that can be very demanding and isolating.  To enable us to fulfil this role we have our Receptionist  Gail Johnson as our Carers Lead, Gail liaises with Monmouthshire Carers who can carry out an assessment of your needs. If you would like to be identified as a Carer or want further information please contact our Reception Team who will forward your details to Gail.

Bridges Community Car Scheme

Do you have difficulty in accessing public transport or face barriers to using taxi services and existing community transport?   The Car Scheme is currently being run as a pilot in the Monmouth area.  To become a Car Scheme passenger you need to make a referral and you will then be seen in your own home by a Car Scheme Co-ordinator.  The passenger will complete an application form which will provide details of their requirements. 

There is a cost

1) the total return mileage between the drivers home and the passengers home

2) the total return mileage between the passengers home and the destination 

3) a booking fee of 50p. 

The mileage rate applied will be 45p per mile

Car Scheme Telephone Number 07741572897

Dads Can Cymru Project. 

The New project  is a continuation of the highly successful Dads Can project - funded by the Lottery. The project is a male support service which helps fathers and father figures overcome challenges such as low confidence, mental ill health, relationship breakdown, access to children and negative lifestyle choices.  Dads Can Cymru will continue to operate across Monmouthshire, Newport and Blaenau Gwent utilising a coaching and mentoring approach through 1:2:1 and group work sessions, empowering dads to identify and resolve challenges they face. 

Dads Can Cymru will continue to build on their existing network of support to dads and father figures where they can share, learn, explore and process emotional issues. Dads will also have the opportunity to volunteer in community environmental projects; such as dry stone walling, forest school landscaping and intergenerational work.