Who should I see? – Town Gate Practice

We try to keep our GP appointments for patients with more serious health problems.

Before you book an appointment to see a doctor please consider whether an appointment with a practice nurse might be appropriate. They can help you with a wide range of medical problems.

Our receptionists can help you decide which is the right person for you to see.

Self care

If you have a cough, cold, headache or other minor ailment try treating yourself at home first. Find out more about treatments for common minor ailments.

Please remember that self-care for common conditions can help free up our GPs’ time, making it easier to get an appointment when you have a more serious condition.

Your pharmacist can help too

Pharmacists are highly trained health professionals and can give you confidential health advice for a range of common illnesses and complaints.

Don’t wait for a GP appointment for coughs, colds, aches and pains. Just call your local pharmacy a call or drop in – there’s no need to make an appointment.

Your pharmacists can also help you decide if you need to see a doctor or nurse.

Click here for more information about how pharmacies can help you.

Minor injuries

Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport (Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week)

Nevill Hall Hospital, Abergavenny (Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week)

Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr, Ystrad Mynach (Open 7am-10pm, 7 days a week)

Ysbyty Aneurin Bevan, Ebbw Vale (Open 9am-7pm, Monday-Friday)

Adults and children over one year old with a wide range of injuries can be treated at our Minor Injury Units (all children under one year old will need to go to The Grange University Hospital)

What sort of injuries or problems can be treated at an MIU?

(Up to 4 WEEKS after any accident)

Limb injuries, which include broken bones (fractures) and minor joint dislocations.
Wounds, grazes and minor burns.
Head injuries provided there is no loss of consciousness or taking blood thinning drugs.
Face injuries provided there is no loss of consciousness.
Minor neck injuries, provided that the patient is mobile, has no pins and needles in arms and has not fallen from a height greater than 5 stairs or 1 metre.
Minor back injuries, provided that the patient is mobile, has no pins and needles in the legs, has not fallen from a height greater than 5 stairs or 1 meter.
Eye, ear and nose injuries and foreign bodies.
Rib injuries.
Insect, animal and human (Dr’s can also deal with insect bites)

What treatment CAN be provided at an MIU?

The following treatments can be provided at an MIU:
Access to x-rays
Wound closure including stitching and gluing.
Application of dressings
Application of plaster casts, splints, strappings and slings
Reduction of minor joint dislocations
Removal of foreign bodies
Eye washout
Administration of medication to treat the injury.
Administration of tetanus vaccines for injuries only

What CAN’T they treat at an MIU?

Minor Injury Units cannot treat:
Colds, coughs, sore throats, earache, rashes, temperatures (Dr/Pharmacy)
Urinary infections, cystitis or catheter problems (Dr)
Dental problems (Dentist)
Accident with injury to abdomen/stomach (The Grange)
Abdominal pain (Dr/The Grange)
Chest pain (The Grange /Dr)
Collapse (Emergency Services / The Grange / Dr)
Beathing problems (The Grange/Dr)
Stroke (The Grange/Dr)
Overside and poisoning
Mental health problems (call 111 option 2)
Painful limbs, joints or back (not caused by an injury) (Dr)
Skin complains including boils and rashes. (Dr/Pharmacy)
Wounds that have not been caused during an accident. (Dr/Pharmacy)

NHS Direct Wales

For 24 hour confidential healthcare advice, or if you have queries about NHS services and accessing them in non-urgent circumstances the you can ring NHS Direct on 0845 4647

You should use the NHS Direct service if you urgently need medical help or advice but it’s not a life-threatening situation.

Call if:

you need medical help fast but it’s not a 999 emergency
you think you need to go to A&E or need another NHS urgent care service
you don’t know who to call or you don’t have a GP to call
you need health information or reassurance about what to do next

Click here for more information about how NHS Direct can help you.

A&E

The Grange University Hospital is located at Caerloen Road in Llanfrechfa, Cumbran NP44 8YN

Emergency Hospital Services The Grange University Hospital provides Critical and Specialist care to every resident living in the in the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board area. The hospital provides a centre of excellence to treat our seriously ill patients, or those with significant injuries, and is the designated trauma unit for our area. All Children under 1 year old must be seen The Grange University Hospital.

Please call 999 or advise to go straight to the The Grange University Hospital for a life-threatening illness or serious injury, including:

Severe breathing difficulties.
Severe pain or bleeding
Chest pain or a suspected stroke
Serious trauma injuries (e.g., From a car crash)