Visitors to Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire this holiday season will know where to turn if they need NHS help, thanks to a new campaign.
With summer on its way and the population swelling across mid and west Wales, Hywel Dda University Health Board is signposting people to the most appropriate NHS services for their medical problem.
Posters and fliers can be seen across all three counties, especially in tourist hotspots. The distinctive ‘signpost’ design directs people to pharmacists, dentists, opticians and Minor Injuries Units, and advises when it’s appropriate to help yourself, call 111 or go to A&E.
The materials can be found in major visitor attractions, campsites and other accommodation providers, supermarkets, libraries and village halls. Across Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire they can also be seen in council-run public toilets.
Jill Paterson, Director of Primary Care, Community and Long-Term Care, said: “With the beauty of the coast and countryside of mid and west Wales a huge number of visitors are attracted to the area each year, particularly during the main holiday season. This has an impact on the number of people potentially needing NHS help, so it’s important that visitors as well as residents know where they can go to find the most appropriate service to meet their specific need.
“We’re advising people to make full use of services such as Community Pharmacies, Minor Injuries Units or self-care at home when appropriate, which will also help to ensure that the GP Out of Hours service and A&E departments are used for urgent care only.”
For a full list of the nearest healthcare services, wherever you are in or Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion or Pembrokeshire you can visit www.choosewellwales.org.uk
Kevin Bird, of the Greener Camping Club, which has member campsites across all three counties, said: “The NHS posters and fliers have been well received by our campsite owners, they are great to put on noticeboards or in a welcome pack.
“Ensuring guests have easy access to healthcare, especially in an emergency, whilst on holiday is all part of good hosting.”
The campaign also reminds local residents and visitors to call the freephone 111 number for advice on where to go when the problem is urgent but not life-threatening. Anyone can call the 24-hour service from a landline or mobile.
Ymweld â chanolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru? Sicrhewch eich bod yn gwybod lle i droi i gael help gan y GIG!
Bydd ymwelwyr â Sir Gaerfyrddin, Ceredigion a Sir Benfro y tymor gwyliau hwn yn gwybod lle i droi os bydd arnynt angen help gan y GIG, diolch i ymgyrch newydd.
Gan fod yr haf ar ei ffordd, a’r boblogaeth yn chwyddo ledled canolbarth a gorllewin Cymru, mae Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Hywel Dda yn cyfeirio pobl at y gwasanaethau GIG mwyaf priodol ar gyfer eu problem feddygol.
Mae posteri a thaflenni i’w gweld ledled y tair sir, yn enwedig yn y cyrchfannau twristiaeth mwyaf poblogaidd. Mae’r dyluniad ‘arwyddbost’ trawiadol yn cyfeirio pobl at fferyllwyr, deintyddion, optegwyr ac Unedau Mân Anafiadau, ac yn rhoi cyngor o ran pryd y mae’n briodol helpu eich hun, ffonio 111 neu fynd i Adran Damweiniau ac Achosion Brys.
Mae’r deunyddiau i’w gweld mewn atyniadau poblogaidd i ymwelwyr, gwersyllfeydd a darparwyr llety eraill, archfarchnadoedd, llyfrgelloedd a neuaddau pentref. Ledled Sir Gaerfyrddin a Sir Benfro gallant hefyd gael eu gweld mewn toiledau cyhoeddus sy’n eiddo i’r cyngor.
Dywedodd Jill Paterson, Cyfarwyddwr Gofal Sylfaenol, Cymunedol a Gofal Hirdymor: “Oherwydd harddwch arfordir a chefn gwlad canolbarth a gorllewin Cymru, mae nifer enfawr o ymwelwyr yn cael eu denu i’r ardal bob blwyddyn, yn enwedig yn ystod y prif dymor gwyliau. Mae hyn yn cael effaith ar nifer y bobl y gallai fod arnynt angen help gan y GIG, felly mae’n bwysig bod ymwelwyr yn ogystal â phobl leol yn gwybod lle y gallant fynd i ddod o hyd i’r gwasanaeth mwyaf priodol i fodloni eu hangen penodol.
“Rydym yn cynghori pobl i wneud defnydd llawn o wasanaethau fel Fferyllfeydd Cymunedol, Unedau Mân Anafiadau neu hunanofal gartref pan fydd hynny’n briodol, a fydd hefyd yn helpu i sicrhau bod gwasanaeth y Tu Allan i Oriau Meddygon Teulu a’r Adrannau Damweiniau ac Achosion Brys yn cael eu defnyddio ar gyfer gofal brys yn unig.”
I gael rhestr lawn o’r gwasanaethau gofal iechyd agosaf, lle bynnag yr ydych yn Sir Gaerfyrddin, Ceredigion neu Sir Benfro, gallwch fynd i www.dewisdoethcymru.org.uk
Dywedodd Kevin Bird, o’r Greener Camping Club, sydd â gwersyllfeydd sy’n aelodau o’r Clwb ledled y tair sir: “Mae posteri a thaflenni’r GIG wedi cael eu croesawu gan berchnogion ein gwersyllfeydd, maent yn wych i’w gosod ar hysbysfyrddau neu mewn pecyn croeso.
“Mae sicrhau bod gan westeion mynediad hawdd i ofal iechyd, yn enwedig mewn argyfwng, pan fyddant ar wyliau i gyd yn rhan o gynnig gwasanaeth da.”
Mae’r ymgyrch hefyd yn atgoffa pobl leol ac ymwelwyr i ffonio’r rhif 111 am ddim i gael cyngor o ran lle i fynd pan fydd y broblem yn un frys ond nid yn un sy’n peryglu bywyd. Gall unrhyw un ffonio’r gwasanaeth 24 awr o linell dir neu ffôn symudol.
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