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At Birchgrove Surgery, we have regular reviews of our appointment availability with a view to discussing the balance we can strike for appointment demand. It is becoming increasingly difficult to satisfy this demand, however in an attempt to bring about change, and improve access for our patients, we would like to rebalance access to our routine appointments versus same day emergency appointments.

Therefore, from 1^st August 2023, we will be releasing routine appointments further in advance. We will also be asking that patients call after 10am if they wish to be seen in a routine appointment, allowing patients who need emergency access to a GP to ring from 8am. This will also provide the GPs with time to focus and triage patients on the phone before inviting them down to the surgery to be seen.

We will be reviewing any improvement that this change will bring to services over the coming weeks and hope that, by releasing appointments further in advance, we see a reduction in the number of patients asking to be seen as an emergency. We are optimistic that this change will not result in an increase in the number of patients who forget to attend their appointment.

Patients who would like access to a routine appointment without the need to call in are welcome to ask for details of My Health Online. This is the precursor to the NHS App which is currently in the Beta (testing) phase in Wales which should be available for our patients in 2024.  We will keep you posted on developments as they happen.

There seems to be a fault on the telephone line 02920 520444 for some of our patients. The Telephone Systems Contractor is currently looking in to this and we will report back in due course. In the meantime we can also be contacted on 02920 522344. ☎️

Demand for appointments remains high, but we have now reintroduced some routine appointments that are bookable in advance. Please use these appointments wisely and if ever you are not able to make an appointment, please remember to let our receptionists know so that we can release it for someone else's use.

Owing to excessive demand and a real fear that mistakes will start to be made, it is with great sadness that we are having to take emergency action and remove access to any routine GP appointments with immediate effect. This will of course be reviewed regularly and we will advise our patients of any further changes.

The unprecedented demand from concerned patients around Strep A and other winter viruses that are circulating has resulted in us only being able to deal with emergencies at present.  Due to high call volumes (we had over 400 yesterday alone), you may experience a wait for your call to be answered, but our receptionists will be sure to signpost your request appropriately.  PLEASE do not come to the surgery thinking that you will be seen more quickly. If you have an emergency that needs dealing with the same day, we will ensure that you are called back or advise you of alternative steps that you need to make.

Often the quickest way to find help is to think self-care first. Please follow the link to our Minor Injury and Illness page on our website for further help on coughs, colds and headaches.Minor Injury & Illness - Birchgrove Surgery (wales.nhs.uk)  Alternatively, contact your pharmacist who will be able to provide you with the best advice for common ailments. NHS 111 Wales is also an excellent resource for free healthcare advice.NHS 111 Wales

Mask wearing is no longer mandatory but we ask that everyone visiting the surgery wears a face mask, especially if you are seeing a clinician face to face. We will also be wearing masks. This is to protect both you and us as we combat all the viruses circulating at the moment. We can provide you with a mask if you need one, please just ask.

Thank you for your kindness and understanding, please know that we are doing all that we can to give you our best of care.

We currently have two doctors unable to work due to sickness. We are also dealing with a vast number of urgent consultations at the moment, and unfortunately this means that we are unable to offer our usual number of routine appointments. We thank you for your kindess and understanding.

NHS 111 online can provide you with advice and medical help, and we would always recommend checking their website if you have a medical concern and are unsure how to manage your symptoms, or where to go to get help.  

NHS 111 Wales - Check Your Symptoms

Please note our schedule for Christmas/New Year. We anticiapte that we will recieve a high number of requests for urgent care over this period, and as such you may notice that there are less routine appointments available to accomadate this. 

If you are due your next repeat presciption during this period please remember to make your request in plenty of time.

The delivery of our flu vaccinations is due in the next couple of weeks and we are already taking bookings in our flu vaccination clinic on Saturday 8th October.

Please call the surgery on 02920 520444 to make your appointment if you are in any of the following eligible groups:

• Aged 50 or older
• Suffer from any of the following chronic conditions: Asthma, COPD, Diabetes, Coronoary Heart Disease, Heart Failure, BMI over 40, Chronic Kidney Disease, Hepatitis, Parkinson's, MND, MS, cerebral palsy
• Learning disability
• Sickle Cell Disease
• Splenectomy
• a weakened immune system
• pregnant

The surgery will be closed on Monday 19th September. Find simple tips to keep well over the long weekend at 111.wales.nhs.uk

If you are in need of any urgent medical help whilst we are closed, please dial 111 for assistance.

We have seen a recent increase in the number of requests for letters from the GP to support Blue Badge applications. Completion of forms or writing letters fall outside of the remit of General Medical Services and the GPs will charge for this. The current fee is £40.

Where possible we recommend that you provide the council with a copy of a letter from your consultant or physiotherapist which should describe your condition (COPD, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Chronic Pain, physical disability etc) and how it limits your mobility. Generally speaking you will have a letter from your most recent appointment with your specialist confirming this. If not, our receptionists can check for any recent communication on our records.

Those who are in receipt of Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independent Payments (score of 10+ for planning a journey and moving around), War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement, Armed Forces Compensation Scheme or those with a sight impairment need to provide supporting information as confirmation of their entitlement.

Return to Rhiwbina Clinic.docx

The surgery has been at its current site for 17 years this year and it is therefore beyond time to recoat the fire exit doors.

Please be aware that this work will be undertaken on Thursday 23rd June. The main entrance door will be unaffected and the areas having work done otuside will be marked out.

Thursday 2nd & Friday 3rd June are both bank holidays, not all pharmacies will be open. Please see below for details of pharmacies that will be opening. 

Whilst mask wearing in healthcare settings is no longer mandatory from Monday 30th May 2022, we would ask everyone visiting the surgery to consider wearing a mask if they can, especially if you are seeing a clinician face to face.  This is to protect you and us.  We can provide a mask if you need one - just ask.  

 Many of our staff will be choosing to continue to wear a mask to try to protect everyone as best they can. Thank you.

Monday 2nd May is a bank holiday, your local pharmacy may be closed. We have been notified that the following pharmacies are open:

We have a new service available - please get in touch on 02921 832552 if you think this could be of help to you.

Please continue to wear a mask when you visit the surgery. We need to protect the vulnerable and it is still a legal requirement to wear masks in health and social settings. 

We strongly recommend that you still wear face coverings even where you don’t have to.  COVID-19 is still a risk, and we must continue to do what we can to limit the spread.

Thank you.

Changes to the appointment system.

We have tried to provide the best service possible over the last 2 years and appreciate that it really hasn't been ideal - not for us, nor our patients. We would like to thank those of you who have shown extreme kindness and patience whilst we continued to work diligently for you.

With the easing of restrictions, we are now able to offer a larger number of face to face appointments with the GPs, but we will also continue to offer telephone consultations which have proven to be a popular choice. Appointments will be available to book over the phone or via My Health Online. The receptionist will offer you a telephone or face to face consultation. You will not be able to have both a telephone consultation and a face to face appointment for the same problem - this is something we need to move away from. Emails are still being responded to, but please remember this is the same team that answers the telephone, so you will not be saving the receptionist time by emailing. 😊 The appointments are currently available up to 3 weeks in advance.

Our website offers you the ability to submit a Medication Review and request a sick note. My Health Online allows patients to order prescriptions electronically, book appointments and review a brief copy of your medical record.

Our nurses continue to examine our patients and perform all manner of routine care - Smears, Travel Vaccinations, Chronic Disease Monitoring to name but a few.

We will be monitoring the new appointment system and hope that you will understand that many conditions can wait to be attended to and dealt with on a routine basis. Emergency appointments will be available every day, but please use these wisely.

We are experiencing significant problems with all software that requires Internet access today. This is a Wales wide problem and making everyone's day a much tougher one! 😞

How will this potentially affect you? If you have sent an email, we cannot see it at the moment. We are hoping this is a temporary blip and we will get through your requests as soon as we get sight of them.

Thanks for your patience.

Wondering how to register your current pregnancy with Cardiff & Vale Health Board?

Registering is essential as it ensures you'll be provided with all the necessary ante-natal care you need.

Click HERE for a downloadable/printable information leaflet.

We have taken time out to answer some of the most frequently asked questions. Please follow this link:

Patient Q&A.docx

Please follow this link for the telephone number or contact request form for the physio department. You are able to self refer without contacting the surgery.

Self Referral - Keeping Me Well

As most parents will be aware, children often develop various illnesses and ailments. If your child suffers from any of the following you don’t need to visit our Emergency Unit or Out of Hours, and can usually receive treatment and advice from your GP or Pharmacist.  Scroll down for advice on how you can treat your child for some of these common illnesses and how long you should keep them away from nursery or school following these conditions. Alternatively you can download the "When Should I Worry?" leaflet which contains useful guidance on looking after a sick child.

Childhood Conditions - Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (nhs.wales)

Prior to taking your photographs and sending them to the Practice Manager email address, please click the link below and read our handy guide to getting the best quality photographs out of your smartphone...