Practice Nurse Services    Return to top
The nurses employed by the practice provide a wide range of caring and preventative services. They run clinics for asthma, diabetes hypertension, vascular disease (encompassing Ischaemic Heart Disease and Stroke), well woman clinics, family planning, immunisations and minor surgery. As well as the clinics our practice nurses provide a wide variety of services including dressings, injections, suture removal, ear syringing, treatment of minor injuries and travel advice/immunisations. An appointment system is in operation.

Nurse Practitioner - Rachel Hall
She will see patients with many of the less serious illnesses traditionally dealt with by GPs, such as coughs, colds, sore throats, urine infections and some simple, uncomplicated skin complaints. She will also be running the asthma and COPD clinic.

Health Care Assistants
Healthcare Assistants assist with many duties traditionally performed by the practice nurses e.g. blood pressure checks, ECGs, chaperoning and in-house INR checks for those suitable patients. They also perform new patient medicals

Attached Staff    Return to top
The following are employed by the Conwy & Denbighshire NHS Trust but work from the practice.
District Nurses
These offer nursing care in the community. They are available to visit you at home if appropriate and can be contacted either through the practice or at Colwyn
Bay Hospital (515218).
Health Visitors
These are nurses/midwives who have had further training in family health care and education. They are particularly concerned with children’s health and are involved with child immunisation and antenatal clinics at the practice. Contact the practice or Colwyn Bay Hospital (01492 515218).
Midwives
The midwives run an antenatal clinic each Wednesday and Thursday afternoon at the practice. They are your link with the hospital maternity services and may be involved with delivering your baby. They visit you at home after the birth. They can be contacted at Colwyn Bay Community Hospital (515218).
Community Psychiatric Nurses
We have the services of a team of community psychiatric nurses who are based in the Psychiatric Resource Centre on Nant-y-Glyn Road, Colwyn Bay, where they hold clinics and day care sessions. They work in the community providing assessment, counselling and treatment for nervous disorders. Contact Nant-y-Glyn Resource Centre, Colwyn Bay (532164).
Macmillan Nurse
She is a nurse/counsellor who supports patients and their families who are coping with cancer terminal illnesses. She may be contacted via the practice or at Glan Clwyd Hospital (01745 445169).
Dietician
The dietician runs a clinic at the practice fortnightly on Thursday mornings.

Health Services    Return to top
The practice is contracted to provide services to its patients under three main headings - Essential Services, Additional Services and Enhanced Services. We provide all essential and additional services. The practice is currently updating an Enhanced Services contract with Conwy Local Health Board; for details of the Enhanced Services we provide, please ask your doctor or the practice manager (Mrs Shelagh Hughes).

Vaccinations    Return to top
Childhood Immunisations - please also visit www.immunisation.nhs.uk
A child immunisation clinic is held every Tuesday between 1.30-3.00pm. The clinic is conducted by one of the health visitors, with a doctor in attendance, to carry out child health surveillance examinations and for advice if necessary.
Timetable of Immunisation
2m Diphtheria/Whooping Cough/Tetanus/Polio/Hib + Pneumococcus
3m Diphtheria/Whooping Cough/Tetanus/Polio/Hib + Meningitis C
4m Diphtheria/Whooping Cough/Tetanus/Polio/Hib + Meningitis C + Pneumococcus

12m Hib/Meningitis C

13m Measles/Mumps/Rubella + Pneumococcus

3y4m-5y Diptheria/Whooping cough/Tetanus/Polio + Measles/Mumps/Rubella

13y-18y Diptheria/Tetanus/Polio (for those who have missed school vaccination)

If you have any further questions the health visitor or doctor will be able to advise you.

Other Vaccinations
Flu And Pneumococcal Infections
We recommend vaccination against the flu and pneumococcal infection in the autumn for those over the age of 65 and for those who have certain chronic medical conditions that put them at higher risk should they develop the flu or a pneumococcal infection such as pneumococcal pneumonia. Please enquire at reception in September/early October.
Tetanus
Everyone should be protected by being immunised against this disease. Please contact our practice nurses if you need clarification about whether you are fully immunised.
Firws Papiloma Dynol (HPV)
Gweler www.screeningservices.org.uk am wybodaeth ynglun a threfniadau brechu yn erbyn HPV a fydd yn cychwyn yn mis Medi 2008. Disgwylir y bydd hyn yn cymeryd lle yn yr ysgolion uwchradd lleol.
Yellow Fever
We are a yellow fever vaccination centre. Please make an appointment with our practice nurse. There will be a fee for this service.

Minor Surgery    Return to top
Certain minor operations, usually for small skin lumps, can be performed by the doctors at the practice. Minor Surgery sessions are usually held twice a month from 2.00-4.00pm. You will have to see your doctor before arranging minor surgery.

Community Hospital    Return to top
We are fortunate in being able to utilise the facilities at Colwyn Bay Community Hospital. It has 42 inpatient beds that are looked after by a local GP and a Care of the Elderly consultant.

Your doctor may refer you to the physiotherapy department, specialist outpatients, x-ray department or laboratory (‘Path lab’). The minor injuries unit is run by an experienced A&E specialist nurse; major injuries should go directly to Glan Clwyd.

More specialised clinics    Return to top
Special Disease And Health Promotion Clinics
The doctors and nurses provide the following clinics/special facilities:
Antenatal Care; Asthma; Contraceptive Care; Diabetes; Epilepsy; HRT; Hypertension; Vascular Disease (encompassing Ischaemic Heart Disease & Stroke); Mental Health Clinic; Minor Surgery; Women’s Health.

Minor illness advice (1)     Return to top
(please also visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk for advice about treating minor illness)

Many mild illnesses and conditions are self-limiting; they will get better with no treatment; most can be dealt with by yourself with a little help from the chemist if need be:-
Antibiotics
These are very useful drugs for treating bacterial infections but they are completely ineffective in treating conditions caused by viruses eg colds and flu, most tummy upsets and sore throats. Excess use leads to bacterial resistance and they can have serious side effects. Your doctor will decide when their use is appropriate.
High Temperature
This is a common problem, particularly in young children, and is nearly always caused by infection, most commonly a viral one such as the common cold. Most of these infections will settle with home treatment within a few days. Keep a child cool, and avoid excess clothing/covers and room temperature and give cool drinks. A sponge down with warm water is acceptable. Under the age of 16 years both paracetamol and ibuprofen can be used. Aspirin can only be used over the age of 16 years. If there are any other worrying signs, consult the doctor. It does no harm to bring a feverish child to surgery.
Rashes
These are not a cause for concern unless the child is ill. Mild rashes occur often with viral infections and can be difficult to tell from rubella (German measles). Meningitis rash differs from other rashes in that it will not disappear when a glass is pressed on it.
German Measles
The first, and often the only sign, is a rash consisting of small pink spots covering the body, arms and legs. The virus can be passed on two days before the rash until it disappears four to five days later. The only danger is to unborn babies, therefore avoid contact with pregnant mothers. Immunisation can prevent this disease.
Measles
Measles causes a severe, blotchy red rash, following four days of a feverish cold with a nasty cough and sore eyes.
Chickenpox
This is usually easy to diagnose, with red spots forming small blisters in various stages going on to form crusts. Complications are very rare. Calamine lotion can relieve the itch and baths are soothing.

Minor illness advice (2)    Return to top
Common Cold
This is caused by a virus giving us all the familiar sore throat, blocked runny nose, cough and sometimes headaches, aches and pains. Antibiotics are of no use to “nip it in the bud” and you should be able to deal with it yourself using paracetamol, ibuprofen or aspirin (in those over 16 years), decongestants and cough medicines that are available at the chemist. If complications such as sinusitis, persistent cough with nasty phlegm or ear infections arise, antibiotics may be needed.
Earache
The majority of these resolve without the need for an antibiotic. Paracetamol or ibuprofen in adequate doses should be used to relieve the pain. If it lasts more than a few days, or if severe, consult your doctor.
Vomiting and Diarrhoea
In most cases this is caused by viral infections, but also occasionally by food poisoning. The important part of treatment is to rest the stomach and intestine by stopping food in the initial phase of the illness and drinking plenty of fluid to prevent dehydration. If the symptoms are severe or prolonged, particularly in babies, the elderly or diabetic patients, consult the doctor. Be careful to follow instructions for storage and cooking of food and keep a good standard of hygiene in your home.
Nosebleeds
These rarely have a serious cause. Sit in a chair, leaning forwards with your mouth open, and pinch the tip of your nose firmly. Ice packs can be applied to the nose. Keep the pressure on for 10-15 minutes by which time the bleeding should have stopped. If it does not, consult the doctor.

Test Results    Return to top
It is the patient’s responsibility to telephone the practice between 2.00-4.30 pm for test results. For data protection reasons, results will not be relayed to anyone other than the patient unless the practice has a written copy of a Lasting Power of Attorney that specifically allows the caller to deal with the patient's health and welfare on his/her behalf.

Repeat Prescriptions    Return to top
For patients needing regular long-term medication we have a computerised system of repeat prescriptions. Please leave the computer list, marking clearly all the items you need, in the box on the reception desk before 1.00 pm, or post it to us enclosing a stamped self-addressed envelope, or by requesting on-line using this website. If requesting on-line please ensure that you use your surgery reference number found on the top part of the tear-off slip of your repeat prescription.

Please allow at least 24 hours for processing, except on a Friday when prescriptions will be ready for collection the following Tuesday after 2.00 pm.

It is important that your treatment is monitored regularly so every 6-12 months you will find a red stamp on the computer slip asking you to make an appointment with the doctor. It is the policy of Conwy Local Health Board for the practice to only issue 28-day prescriptions to its patients. A Practice Prescribing Technician (Amanda J Hughes) who is employed by Conwy Local Health Board works from the Practice, assisting it in the provision of high-quality prescribing.

Ordering Prescriptions

PLEASE DO NOT USE THE TELEPHONE TO REQUEST PRESCRIPTION: THIS CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS ERRORS AND BLOCKS THE TELEPHONE LINES.

Home Oxygen Therapy

This is now supplied by a company called Air Products, not by a local chemist. Air Products have a 24 hour emergency line that you can contact on 0800373580

Children and young people    Return to top
The practice believes that children and young people should be protected at all times. If you have any complaint or concerns about any issues please contact Mrs Shelagh Hughes, Practice Manager, one of the partners or a Health Visitor. Conwy Local Health Board have also commissioned the services of Tros Gynnal to provide an advocacy service for children and young people in Conwy (contact by phoning the freephone number 0800 0852274 or text 07768 161452).

Contraception    Return to top
Advice on contraception is available by consulting any of the doctors or nurses.

Antenatal Clinic    Return to top
You will be referred to the specialist clinic but most of your pregnancy care will be provided by the midwives and doctors. Ensure that you report to your doctor early in pregnancy.

The antenatal clinic is held every Wednesday and Thursday afternoon by the midwives. Please ensure that you return for your postnatal check six to eight weeks after the baby is born.

Cervical Smears    Return to top
National guidelines recommend that you have a cervical smear test every three years from the age of 20 to 65 unless advised otherwise. The test is done by our practice nurses in a Women's Haelth clinic appointment. The test can be done during surgery times by your doctor but please tell the receptionist so that time is allowed and preparations made. Please visit www.screeningservices.org/csw for information about cervical screening. Please remember that you still need a cervical smear even if you have been vaccinated against HPV (Human Papilloma Virus).

Chaperone     Return to top
A chaperone is always available if required.

Dietician    Return to top
We have the services of a dietician employed by the Conwy & Denbighshire NHS Trust once a fortnight. She advises on all aspects of diet, from weight problems to diets for particular diseases. Appointments can be made following consultation with the doctor or practice nurse.

Caring for Carers    Return to top
The practice recognises that caring for a friend or relative, whether formally or informally, occasionally presents its own problems. Please inform your doctor if you are a carer, so that he/she can help you obtain appropriate advice to enable you to deal with any problems encountered. You should register with the Carers Outreach Service based at Colwyn Bay by telephoning 533714 or by speaking to June, Lynne or Shirley at the Practice.

Mammography    Return to top
As well as regular breast self-examination, all women aged 50-65 years can have this X-ray test every three years. You should receive an appointment from Breast Test Wales (contactable on 01492 860888) appropriate intervals.