The GP may not always be the best person to see. Alternative local services may have the facilities to better help with your ailment.
Please see below some local services and websites with further information on what they can offer.
Accident and Emergency
A&E is for life-threatening accidents and emergencies only. Before you go there, ask yourself, “Is it a real emergency?”
If not, please consider using other local health services before you visit A&E.
Minor Injuries Unit (MIU)
Minor Injury Unit (MIU) offers a service for ‘walk-in’ patients over the age of one year, who have injured themselves within the last 4 weeks. It is important to understand MIU is NOT an Emergency Department (ED), and not equipped with the specialist staff, equipment & facilities to manage serious or life-threatening conditions.
If you have an injury that is not serious you can go to a Minor Injury Unit for help, instead of going to an Accident & Emergency department. By doing this, Accident & Emergency departments can concentrate on those with serious and life-threatening conditions.
The closest Minor Injuries Units are Neath Port Talbot Hospital- open 8am-9pm and Prince Philip Hospital – open 24hrs. Please follow the links for addresses and further information on what each unit is able to treat.
NHS 111 – Out of Hours service
111 is the free NHS non-emergency number.
You should use the NHS 111 service if you urgently need medical help or advice but it’s not a life-threatening situation.
Call 111 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
- you need access to a GP and the surgery is closed
For further information on NHS 111 please visit the link above.
Mental Health Support – Call 111 option 2
24/7 mental health support is now available over the phone in Swansea Bay. People who need urgent support with mental health issues can call a team of mental health professionals for free, day or night. Available 24/7 for anyone in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot with a mental health concern, including relatives who need advice.
For further information please follow the above link.
Self care
If you have a cough, cold, headache or other minor ailment try treating yourself at home first.
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.
Pharmacy
Pharmacists are highly trained health professionals and can give you confidential health advice for a range of common illnesses and complaints. You can be seen under the Common Ailments Service scheme for free for 27 common ailments, just drop in – no need to make an appointment. The Pharmacist will advise you if you need to see a doctor or nurse.
Opticians
If you have an eye problem that needs urgent attention, please contact your local optician, as they have the expertise and specialist equipment to help you. Most opticians have optometrists who are part of the Eye Health Examination Wales Service. If you have a problem with your eyes like red eye, flashing lights or floaters, you can go there instead of your GP, and it won’t cost you anything. Optometrists in Wales also offer a Low Vision Service, so you don’t have to go to a hospital to be assessed.
Please visit the link above for more information.
Dentist
If you have a regular dentist and are experiencing dental pain, you should contact your dental practice for advice on how to manage your problems and where appropriate you should be provided with an urgent appointment.
If you do not have a regular dentist or have an urgent dental problem outside normal working hours, please call 111 for advice and help in finding an urgent dental appointment if required.
It is important that people continue to contact their regular dentist if they have problems such as a swelling, pain that is not relieved with simple pain relief within 24-48 hours or if they have ulcers which have not healed within seven days.
Physiotherapy
For further information on Physiotherapy in the Swansea bay area and how to self refer, please follow the above link.
Podiatry
If you need advice for any foot-related problem please contact the SBUHB Podiatry Services via Email: [email protected] Or telephone: 0300 300 0024
Lines are open Monday to Friday 9:00am -12:00pm and 1:00pm to 3:45pm (excluding bank holidays).
Please note that the podiatry department does not offer a routine nail-cutting service. Specialist nail care advice and clinical treatment is only available where nails are abnormal and causing problems.
Sexual Health Clinic
Free and confidential for:
- sexual health advice, testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs/STDs) and treatment
- contraception, including emergency contraceptive pill and emergency coils
- pregnancy testing
- HIV testing
- access to PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis)
- access to PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis)
- hepatitis B vaccination
- abortion advice and referral
- help for victims of sexual assault
- psychosexual counselling
For further advice and contact details, please follow the link above.
Maternity services
Have you recently found out you’re pregnant? Did you know that you don’t need to visit your GP surgery to access maternity care?
For further information, please visit our Maternity Services page.
Social Prescribing
What is Social Prescribing? Social prescribing is a service connecting people to non-medical sources that will enable them to improve their health and wellbeing.
For further information please read this leaflet or visit the Swansea CVS website.
