Making a Routine Appointment
  All surgeries are operated on an appointment basis. To make an appointment with a doctor, practice nurse or health care assistant please telephone or call at the Medical Centre. Patients can request to be seen by a health care professional of their choice.

If you have access to the Internet, routine appointments with a doctor can be made via EMIS Access – the secure, on-line service. You will require a registration letter from the surgery which gives you an Access ID and PIN number.  If you would like to use this service, please give your name to a Receptionist at either Hay or Talgarth Medical Centre and a registration letter will be sent to you.  This service is available to adult patients only.

If you no longer require an appointment please contact the Medical Centre and cancel it.

Please note appointments can also be cancelled via EMIS Access – the secure, on-line service.

   
  Car Parking
  There are good car parking facilities at each Medical Centre. This car parking is reserved for patients attending the Medical Centre and members of staff. Please do not park in the Medical Centre car parks for any other reason.
   
  Changes to Registration Details
  Please inform the reception staff if your name, telephone number or address have changed. It is important that we maintain an accurate record of our registered patients.

The Practice is computerised and registered under the Data Protection Act.
   
  Complaints/Problems/Queries/Suggestions
  Our Practice Manager, Mrs Ros Gittoes is available to help with any complaints, problems, queries or suggestions of a medical / non-medical nature. Should you have any concerns, please put them in writing to Mrs Gittoes at either Hay or Talgarth Medical Centre.
   
  Dental Problems
  If you have a dental problem, please visit a dentist. For advice on emergency dental treatment, contact NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.
   
  Facilities for the Disabled
  Hay and Talgarth Medical Centres endeavour to meet the needs of patients with disabilities. Both have easy access for patients who are wheelchair users. We have a loop induction facility at our reception desks for patients with hearing problems. We have lifts to allow patients access to medical services on the 1st floor of each Medical Centre.

If a patient indicates that they need any practice documents in large print, simplified language and/or produced in colour tone we can meet all reasonable requests.
   
  Health Visitors
  There are two Health Visitors attached to the Practice. Health Visitors are registered nurses with further training in working with babies, children and families in the community. Every child under school age will have a Health Visitor.

Your Health Visitors are :-

Andy Williams who is based at Hay Surgery Tel. 01497 822117

Alison Baylis who is based at Talgarth Surgery Tel. 01874 713014

Emphasis is on working with pre-school children and their families and this includes home visits, assessment of need, health promotion, child development, parental mental health, child safety, baby massage, information on childhood immunizations, nutrition and infant feeding, breast feeding, dental health and
accident prevention.
In addition we can offer advice on behaviour difficulty, sleep problems, minor illness and potty training etc.

Baby Clinic is run weekly and parents drop in for health advice and to meet other parents :-

Hay Surgery Thursday 9 am to 12 noon

Talgarth Surgery Thursday 2 pm to 3.30 pm

The Health Visitors also link closely with other services such as Social Services, School Nursing, Midwifery, Speech Therapy, Housing and Child Protection.
   
  Home Visits
  Generally patients will be expected to come to the surgery to be seen unless genuinely house bound or their condition dictates they need a home visit. Patients requiring a home visit will be seen by the Duty Doctor of the day who may ring to discuss the reasons and timing for a visit. It will not be possible to give specific times for visiting as this will depend upon the workload of the day. As we are not an emergency service urgent problems at home require an ambulance. Patients should dial 999 for emergencies. We follow the local medical committee's guidelines on home visiting.
   
  Access to Medical Records
  The Practice works within the scope of the Data Protection and Freedom of Information Acts.
   
  Midwifery Services
  This Practice offers midwifery services to patients in accordance with current guidance and protocols. The midwife care is lead from Brecon War Memorial Hospital. The midwives attend each surgery on a weekly basis as follows :-
 
Hay Medical Centre Tuesday PM
Talgarth Medical Centre Wednesday PM
  Once a pregnancy is confirmed it is advisable that the patient meets with their local midwife to discuss the pregnancy and the options available for future care which will be individually planned. The first meeting with a midwife will probably last over an hour so that pregnancy related issues can be fully discussed, such as screening tests and all aspects of ante-natal care on offer plus advice on healthy life style. The first meeting with a midwife can either be at home or at the Birthing Centre at Brecon War Memorial Hospital at a convenient time. The Birthing Centre can be contacted on 01874 622443. Follow up ante-natal care with the midwife will be at the surgery by appointment.

Patients are either booked for delivery at the midwifery lead centre in Brecon or at the consultant lead units at Nevill Hall Hospital, Abergavenny or County Hospital, Hereford as appropriate.

Post natal checks are undertaken by the patients General Practitioner at approximately 6 weeks after birth by appointment at the surgery.
   
  Patients Transport
  Non emergency patient transport is the responsibility of the Powys Local Health Board. If you are eligible for transport for your first outpatient hospital appointment following a referral by your GP please telephone 0845 840 1234. Please note the surgery cannot book transport.

A Powys Local Health Board leaflet about non emergency patient transport is available from your local surgery.
   
  Registering with the Practice
  To register with the Practice you will be asked to complete a Family Doctor Services Registration Form giving basic information such as name, address, date of birth, NHS number and details of your previous doctor etc.

You will also be asked to complete a New Patient Questionnaire and to attend for a new patient health check with one of our Health Care Assistants.
   
  Relationships
  Please treat our staff with the same courtesy and respect that you would expect to receive from them. We have the right to remove a patient from our list if they are deemed to be violent and aggressive towards members of the primary care team and any other persons on the practice premises.
   
  Results
 
Hay Medical Centre Please telephone after 2.30pm on 01497 822100
Talgarth Medical Centre Please telephone after 2.30pm on 01874 713000
   
  Routine Health Checks
  Any patient that has not been seen in the past 3 years is encouraged to make an appointment for a routine health check. Patients aged 75 years and over are offered screening annually.
   
  Sick Notes
  Self Certification Forms can be obtained from your Employer and will cover you for the first week. A Sick Note will be required from your doctor only after 7 days absence from work. Sick notes cannot be issued immediately, please allow 48 hours. They can be back dated if appropriate. If you require a Sick Note from your doctor for insurance purposes a fee will be charged, a receipt can be issued if required.
   
  Telephone Advice
 

If you need advice on a medical condition but do not feel you need to see a doctor, please telephone the Medical Centre and, when possible, you will be put through to the Practice Nurse running the Minor Ailment Clinic.