A doctors’ surgery is triaging patients over the phone as it implements measures to stop the spread of Covid-19.
Tonyfelin Medical Centre has suspended all urgent and same day appointments for walk-in and drop-in patients and all routine appointments have also been cancelled.
In a statement, the surgery said it was trying to remain “proactive”.
It said: “We are no longer accepting walk-in or drop-in patients at the surgery for urgent or same day appointments as we have done in the past.
“Please can patients ring the surgery and a doctor will triage the request for an appointment and deal with this accordingly.
“Please be patient if you cannot get through or are waiting for a call back.
“We will get back to you. As always we are open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6.30pm. Please do not come down to the surgery if you cannot get through as you will he turned away, please keep trying.
“As always we are open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6.30pm. Please do not come down to the surgery if you can not get through.
“All currently booked routine appointments are cancelled. We have made every effort to contact patients and let them know but please share this information as some patients have not given us telephone contacts details or have not answered their phones.
“We have a working solution to see patients whom we need to assess with possible coronavirus at the surgery.
“All urgent and routine appointments will be assessed on the day by telephone first. If you need to be seen then you will be booked an appointment on the same day or at a suitable time. You will still be assessed at the front door when you attend to see if you have a raised temperature or worrying symptoms of a viral infection.
“We are continuing all necessary work. Patients requiring regular blood testing and treatments at the surgery will continue to be seen as planned. Our nurses will be in contact with our patients with chronic diseases as their reviews come up.
“You can continue to collect your prescriptions from the surgery. We are trying to issue three months of prescriptions and ask that you have a nominated pharmacy.
“As far as possible please attend for your appointments alone as we have to screen everyone coming to the surgery and will have to turn unnecessary escorts away. If you are bringing someone down then please wait in the car park. Please leave siblings with a carer and we ask that only one responsible adult or carer attend with children, vulnerable, disabled or infirm patients.
“Once again thank you all for your patience and support during this difficult and testing period.”
GP surgeries across the county borough are advising patients not to attend unless they are told to do so, according to a tweet from the Neighbourhood Health Network team at the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board.
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This article was amended to clarify information provided to us by the surgery.