North Cardiff Medical Centre

03/09/2024

Flu vaccination Season 2024/2025 - APPOINTMENTS NOW AVAILABLE

North Cardiff Medical Centre are now taking bookings for the Seasonal Flu Vaccine (for patients registered at the surgery ONLY). Our first clinic is on the 1st October 2024 for those eligible to receive it for free on the NHS.

**PLEASE NOTE - ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA MAY HAVE CHANGED FROM PREVIOUS YEARS. BEING ELIGIBLE LAST YEAR DOES NOT NECESSARILY GUARANTEE THAT YOU ARE THIS YEAR. YOU WILL NEED TO CHECK IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE VIA THE FOLLOWING LINK https://phw.nhs.wales/topics/immunisation-and-vaccines/flu-vaccine-and-covid-19-autumn-vaccine/ **

Eligibility criteria is not set at the surgery, we simply enforce the criteria set by Public Health Wales. We are unable to offer the vaccine to patients who do not meet the criteria. You may be able to purchase the vaccine from your local pharmacy. Please speak to your Pharmacist for more information.

Public Health Wales lists the following people as being eligible this year:

People aged six months to 64 years in clinical risk groups

People aged 65 years and older (age on 31 March 2024)

Pregnant women

Carers aged 16 and over

People aged 6 months to 65 years who live with someone who has a weakened immune system

People with a learning disability

Frontline health and social care workers

All staff working in care homes with regular client contact

The rollout of the flu vaccine in adults will start in October with dates being added regularly. please check our website and facebook for updates.

To book your appointment please call the surgery or visit our website. (important - if you book via our website and are not eligible for the vaccine your appointment may be cancelled without notice. Please check the eligibility criteria before booking to avoid disappointment).

30/08/2024

Mae Brechu yn achub bywydau

30/08/2024

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccine

If you are aged 75 to 79 on 1st September 2024 we will be vaccinating our patients from 3rd September 2024.

We have been telephoning eligible patients , if you have not received your call, please contact us to book you into a clinic.

You do need to leave 7 days between having the RSV vaccine and Covid or Flu vaccines. Book in early !

30/08/2024

Vaccination against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) for older adults.

We are now contacting our patients who are :-
1) turning 75 on or after 1st September 2024 or
2) already aged 75 to 79 on 1st September 2024

If you age/Birthday is outside of these dates, you are currently not eligible to receive the vaccine. If this criteria changes we will update accordingly.

For those eligible, we will be inviting you into NCMC during September for your vaccination.

06/08/2024

Prescriptions - Supply Issues - A Guide for Patients

NCMC issues over 6000 prescriptions per month, which equates to over 35,000 items. Unfortunately, with various supply issues across the UK, it is not always possible for our clinicians to stay on top of what is available and what isn't. This can cause a lot of stress for both patients and staff as there is a backwards and forwards with prescriptions being issued for an alternative, then that not being available, etc.

It would help the practice to target resources where they are most needed if you could consider the following information before requesting alternative medications.

"Why is my medicine not in stock?"
There are many reasons why pharmacies are not always able to obtain certain medicines. Shortages of medicines can happen, for example, where medicines manufacturers have problems making or transporting medicines or their ingredients; where more people are suddenly prescribed a medicine, which uses up supply; or where there are pricing concerns about medicines. In recent years we have seen an increase in shortage problems for a combination of these reasons.

"I can’t get my medicine from my usual pharmacy"
If this is the case, we would politely ask that you try 3 additional pharmacies before contacting the surgery. NCMC staff and doctors do not and cannot be expected to know what individual pharmacies may have in stock.
There are several reasons why some pharmacies may have different medicines available:
• Different pharmacies use different suppliers so availability will depend on whether each pharmacy’s suppliers have stock or not.
• Where there is a known shortage of a medicine supply levels can change quickly and can vary regionally – so while pharmacies in one area may be able to find a medicine; others may not.
• Some manufacturers and suppliers restrict the amount of a specific medicine that a pharmacy can order. This is known as a quota. Once a pharmacy has used their quota for the month it can be difficult for them to get any more of that medicine until the start of the next month.

"What happens after I try additional pharmacies?"
If you have tried other pharmacies, and the medications you require are still unavailable the staff will endeavour to provide a prescription for an alternative, or in the event that these are unavailable, we will contact you to discuss treatment options moving forward. Please note that whilst we make every effort to deal with this in a timely manner, there are occasions where you may need to wait to speak to someone. If medication is life critical then this will be dealt with as such, but please do not use emergency appointments for this reason.

01/08/2024

Your NHS Experience Questionnaire is now live!

The experience that you have of care is important to us. An appointment with your doctor, Health Visitor, a hospital stay, an outpatient visit or something else.

To access the survey, open the camera on your mobile phone and scan the below QR Code

26/07/2024

A very important read for anybody who monitors their blood sugars.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/K7ZMyMtdPwVVuxSo/?mibextid=WC7FNe

23/07/2024

10/07/2024

Prescription Requests

We would like to advise our patients that due to staff sickness we are short staffed in our prescription processing team.

This means that this week (08/07/2024 - 12/07/2024) prescription requests will take a little longer to process than normal. Please allow a minimum of 72 hours for your request to be processed.

We should be back to normal next week.

Thank for your understanding.

05/07/2024

03/07/2024

Alcohol Awareness Week - 1st - 7th July 2024

This week is Alcohol Awareness Week. The aim of this national week is to raise awareness of the dangers of alcohol consumption. The link below offers help and advice people as well as busting some myths regarding alcohol consumption.

This year's Alcohol Awareness Week takes place from 1-7 July 2024. Join us to learn more about the harm caused by alcohol.

01/07/2024

1st July - Phone lines update 12.10pm

Our phones are now back up and running, but will shortly automatically change over to our lunch time message (emergencies only between 12.15pm and 1.15pm)

There is obviously going to be an influx of calls now that they are working again. Our best advice would be that unless you have an emergency please call back after 1.15pm.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank you for your patience.

01/07/2024

Monday 1st July - phone lines currently down.

We would just like to inform our patients that our phones are currently down. We're doing everything we can to get them back up and running.

In the meantime, if you need an appointment please visit the surgery to book.

As soon as we have further updates we will post them here.

18/06/2024

April 24 Access to Services Data

A very busy month. 5813 appointments! these are patients seen by the doctors, nurses, midwives, health care assistants and phlebotomists across the surgery.

The downside to this is 125 appointments missed this month. To put that into perspective, a GP will have, on average, a morning or afternoon surgery consisting of 15 appointments per session. a phlebotomist, who's appointments are much shorter due to just taking bloods, will have 42 appointments per morning session. That is a lot of appointments missed overall. These are all appointments that could have gone to other patients who need them.

As you can see, it is vital that if you are unable to attend that you let the surgery know as soon as possible so that we can try to rearrange your appointment for you and offer the cancelled appointment to somebody else.

Help us to help you.

11/06/2024

World Blood Donor Day - 14th June 2024 & National Blood Donor Week 2024

This week is National Blood Donor Week with Friday 14th June being World Blood Donor Day.

Giving blood plays a vital role in saving lives each and every day. The Welsh service supports 19 hospitals across the country.

for more information and to book an appointment to give blood please visit:

https://www.welsh-blood.org.uk/giving-blood/

Why not do something great!

11/06/2024

BNF Healthy Eating Week - 10th - 14th June 2024

This week is Healthy Eating Week supported by the British Nutritional Foundation.

The aim of the week is to encourage healthy eating by ensuring you eat your 5-a-day, stay hydrated, keep active and try something new.

for more information and resources please visit:

https://www.nutrition.org.uk/healthy-eating-week

10/06/2024

National Carers Week - 10th - 16th June 2024

These week is all about carers and the amazing work they do, often unpaid!

Did you know that as a carer there is help and support out there for you? Being a carer is physically and mentally demanding, but you don't have to go through it alone.

Natalie is not only part of our reception team but is also our carers champion. she is here to help any carers out there who require more information on help and support available to you. simply visit our reception and ask for her for more information.

You can also visit the following website for more info on National Carers Week.

https://www.carersweek.org/

24/05/2024

March 24 Access to Services Data

This now reflects our updated phone system with improved call waiting options. This is shown in the reduction of the volume of calls to the surgery.

23/05/2024

May Bank Holiday 27th May 2024

We would like to remind patients that the surgery will be closed This coming Monday 27th May 2024

If you require a Doctor on Monday and it cannot wait until the following day, please call 111.

A list of local Pharmacy opening times for the bank holiday is listed in the attached image. They can be used for any health concerns that are covered by the Common Ailment Scheme.

Any prescription request received after 3pm 24/05/2025 will not be available for collection/sent to pharmacies until Thursday 30/05/2024

The surgery will reopen Tuesday 28th May 2024.

North Cardiff Medical Centre

21/05/2024

Infected Blood Inquiry - Information Update 21/05/2024

We are starting to receive a number of calls concerning the Infected Blood Inquiry that is now all over the news.

Unfortunately, at a North Cardiff Medical Centre we are unable to answer any questions regarding this. There is a lot of information out there but here at the surgery we want to make sure the correct information is relayed to our patients.

Cardiff and Vale Health Board have released a "Frequently asked questions" document which we have posted on our website at the following link:

https://www.northcardiffmedicalcentre.co.uk/infected-blood-inquiry

Any questions you may have, websites with further information and contact information for any concerns are all located there.

We will also have leaflets, containing information, available at our surgeries.

17/05/2024

Mental Health Awareness Week - 13th - 19th May 2024

This week is Mental Health Awareness week, highlighting the importance of looking after your own mental health as well as your physical health.

This years theme is all about "Movement - Moving more for our mental health". going for a walk, a run, a bike ride or going to the gym, as well as many other forms of exercise, are all great for supporting good mental health. You don't have to run a marathon to benefit physically and mentally.

For more information about mental health please visit the link below.

Good mental health for all. Dedicated to finding and addressing the sources of mental health problems.

15/05/2024

C.A.L.L are a mental health team who are the end of the phone whenever you need it.

They have a help line and text service for when you need mental health support

Call 0800 132737 or text HELP to 81066

14/05/2024

Have you made an appointment with the surgery and have found yourself double booked or unable to attend? don't forget to cancel it!

Surgeries across Wales lose appointments every day when patients fail to inform them that they are unable to attend.

Let us know as soon as you know that you are unable to attend your appointment.

Help us to Help you.

03/05/2024

⚠️URGENT PATIENT NOTICE⚠️

Due to clinical staff sickness we are now emergencies only today. Please do not call the Surgery unless your query is of an urgent nature.

Please remember our receptionists are here to help. Please treat them with respect.

Thanks
NCMC

02/05/2024

May Bank Holiday 6th May 2024

We would like to remind patients that the surgery will be closed This coming Monday 6th May 2024

If you require a Doctor on Monday and it cannot wait until the following day, please call 111.

A list of local Pharmacy opening times for the bank holiday is listed in the attached image. They can be used for any health concerns that are covered by the Common Ailment Scheme.

The surgery will reopen Tuesday 7th May 2024.

North Cardiff Medical Centre

26/04/2024

Activity data

February 2024 -Our surgery was open 21 days
January 2024 - Our surgery was open 22 days

We are still working hard and looking at better ways of reducing our appointment DNA's . This month there were 116 appointments where patients did not cancel or show up for their appointment .

We now have an option on our telephones to Press 3 where you can leave us a message (prior to the call waiting Welsh Government triage health message)

26/04/2024

Activity Data

Volumes do vary based on number of opening days.
Staff are always working hard to deliver all our services.

December 2023-our surgery was open 19 days, closed for the seasonal break

November 2023 - our surgery was open 22 days

25/04/2024

Test Results Update - 25th April 2024

From today, we would like to advise patients that if you wish to contact the surgery for any test results (i.e. blood results, x-rays, scans, etc), please call after 2pm.

This is to allow our clinical team time to review results and to reduce the congestion on the phonelines during peak times.

If you call before 2pm you will be asked to call back later.

23/04/2024

We are noticing an increase in patients presenting to the surgery with medical emergencies such as chest pain, stroke symptoms, fits/seizures, possible broken limbs or sudden collapse.

General practice is not equipped to deal with these levels of emergency conditions, or the possible serious nature of them, and patients presenting here with such conditions is leading to a delay in the care they really need, some of which can often be time critical.

If you have an emergency problem, i.e. a problem that needs to be seen immediately and cannot wait, then you need to go to A&E or ring 999, so that you can be assessed by the appropriate emergency services. By coming to the surgery, you risk delay to your care that could prove detrimental to your health.

This also puts great pressure on the clinicians in the surgery as they have to abandon their routine appointments to monitor these patients until they are safely transferred to hospital. This then has a knock on effect on the rest of the clinicians appointment list as other patients will have to wait longer to be seen. We fully appreciate the waiting times for ambulances and A&E departments are long, but we cannot access these services any quicker in surgery.

In surgery we aim to provide urgent care which could mean a wait of hours to days before you are seen based on our clinical assessment . Please use the most appropriate person or place for your clinical need i.e. pharmacy , physio. mental health worker , practice nurse GP or attending the emergency department.

Our trained care navigators may direct you to one of these services instead of an appointment with a GP. This is to provide you with the most appropriate care for your problem.

Help us to help you.

17/04/2024

Right care, first time

Demand on GP services is higher than ever before. Please let our care navigators help you see the correct clinician.

You don't always need to see a GP

The NHS is in crisis – Help patients access the “Right Care, First Time”This video explains why you don’t always need to see the GP. ...