A new service to determine if a patient requires antibiotics for sore throat symptoms is available at 18 pharmacies across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.
The Sore Throat Test and Treat scheme allows patients to call into their local pharmacy and be tested by a trained pharmacist using a quick and pain free test.
Following a consultation and assessment by the pharmacist, medication may be supplied for those patients where an antibiotic is required.
In many cases, a sore throat is the result of a viral rather than bacterial infection which means antibiotics will not work, and self-care and rest are the best course of action.
A pilot carried out last year in Cwm Taf and Betsi Calwalader Health Boards has shown:
- Almost 94% of patients seen would have sought an appointment with a GP had the service not been available.
- Of a total of 601 consultations for sore throats, 475 patients did not receive a supply of antibiotics.
- 98% patient satisfaction with the service.
Pharmacist Ed John of Clunderwen Pharmacy whose pharmacy is taking part in the scheme said: “We are excited to be able to offer his free and accessible service, which saves patients having to see their GP for a sore throat.
“Patients will be able to utilise the consultation facilities to receive advice and treatment in private without the need for an appointment. During the consultation, the patient can be tested to determine whether antibiotics are needed.
“Antibiotics will be provided if indicated by the test, but if not required, the pharmacist can offer advice on self-care and pain relief medication at no charge as part of the NHS Common Ailments Service.”
Jill Paterson, Director of Primary Care, Community and Long-term Care for Hywel Dda University Health Board added: “We are very pleased to work with our colleagues in Community Pharmacy and recognise the range of enhanced services they can offer, often as a first point of contact, which has extended the role they play within Primary Care.
“It is important that we continue to inform members of the public about the Services which can be accessed at their local Community Pharmacy.
“Our Community Pharmacies do a lot more these days than simply dispense medication and in some cases they can save a trip to a GP or an Accident and Emergency Department and as you don’t have to make an appointment they offer a quick and flexible way to access healthcare.”
The pharmacies who will offer this service are:
Carmarthenshire
Burry Port Pharmacy Ltd, 11a Station Road, Burry Port
Tesco Instore Pharmacy, Morfa Lane, Carmarthen
Nigel Williams Pharmacy, Isfryn, Carmarthen Road, Crosshands
Kidwelly Pharmacy, 16 Bridge Street, Kidwelly
Gravells Pharmacy, Thomas Street, Llanelli
Davies Chemists, Avenue Villa Surgery, Brynmor Road, Llanelli
Evans Pharmacy, Ty Elli, Vauxhall, Llanelli
Evans Pharmacy, Machynys, The Avenue, Morfa, Llanelli
Harlow & Knowles, 8 Bridge Street, Penygroes
P Griffiths Ltd, 2 Heol y Meinciau, Pontyates
St Clears Pharmacy, Rebecca House, St Clears
Bridge Pharmacy, Bridge Street, Newcastle Emlyn
Ceredigion
Lloyds Pharmacy, 8-10 North Parade, Aberystwyth
Penryn Pharmacy, Banc y Dyffryn, Aberporth, Cardigan
Pembrokeshire
Clynderwen Pharmacy, Crinow Glebe, Clunderwen
Lloyds Pharmacy, 16-17 Bush Row, Haverfordwest
Lloyds Pharmacy, 136 Robert Street, Milford Haven
Lloyds Pharmacy, Health Centre, Northfield Road, Narberth
Mae gwasanaeth newydd i benderfynu a oes angen gwrthfiotigau ar glaf ar gyfer symptomau dolur gwddf bellach ar gael mewn 18 fferyllfa ar draws Sir Gaerfyrddin, Ceredigion a Sir Benfro.
Mae’r cynllun Profi a Thrin Dolur Gwddf yn galluogi cleifion i alw mewn i’r fferyllfa leol chael prawf cyflym a di-boen gan fferyllydd hyfforddedig.
Yn dilyn ymgynghoriad ac asesiad gan y fferyllydd, gellir rhoi meddyginiaeth i’r cleifion hynny lle mae angen gwrthfiotig.
Mewn llawer o achosion, mae dolur gwddf o ganlyniad i haint firaol yn hytrach na haint bacteriol sy’n golygu nad fydd gwrthfiotigau yn gweithio, a hunan-ofal a gorffwys yw’r camau gorau i’w cymryd.
Dengys canlyniadau cynllun peilot a gynhaliwyd yn gynharach eleni ym Myrddau Iechyd Cwm Taf a Betsi Calwalader y canlynol:
- Byddai bron 94% o’r cleifion a welwyd wedi ceisio apwyntiad gyda Meddyg Teulu pen a bai’r gwasanaeth ar gael.
- O gyfanswm o 601 ymgynghoriad dolur gwddf, ni chafodd 475 o gleifion gyflenwad o wrthfiotigau.
- Boddhad cleifion o 98% gyda’r gwasanaeth.
Meddai’r fferyllydd Ed John o Fferyllfa Clunderwen, sy’n cymryd rhan yn y cynllun: “Mae medru cynnig y gwasanaeth hygyrch hwn am ddim yn gyffrous, ac mae’n golygu nad oes angen i gleifion fynd at Feddyg Teulu oherwydd dolur gwddf.
“Gall cleifion ddefnyddio’r cyfleusterau ymgynghori i gael cyngor a thriniaeth preifat heb angen gwneud apwyntiad. Yn ystod yr ymgynghoriad, gellir cynnal prawf ar y claf i benderfynu a oes angen gwrthfiotigau.
“Bydd gwrthfiotigau yn cael eu darparu os ydy’r prawf yn dangos bod eu hangen, on dos nad oes eu hangen gall y fferyllydd gynnig cyngor ar hunan-ofal a meddyginiaeth lladd poen am ddim yn rhan o Wasanaeth Anhwylderau Cyffredin y GIG.”
Ychwanegodd Jill Paterson, Cyfarwyddwr Gofal Sylfaenol, Cymunedol a Hirdymor Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Hywel Dda: “Rydym yn bles iawn o weithio gyda’n cydweithwyr mewn Fferyllfeydd Cymunedol ac yn cydnabod yr ystod o wasanaethau ychwanegol y maen nhw’n eu cynnig, yn aml fel pwynt cyswllt cyntaf, sydd wedi ymestyn y rôl maen nhw’n ei chwarae o fewn Gofal Sylfaenol.
“Mae’n bwysig ein bod yn parhau i roi gwybod i’r cyhoedd am y gwasanaethau sydd ar gael iddynt mewn fferyllfeydd cymunedol. Mae ein fferyllfeydd cymunedol yn gwneud llawer mwy y diwrnodau hyn na dim ond gweinyddu meddyginiaethau, ac mewn rhai achosion maen nhw’n gallu arbed mynd i weld Meddyg Teulu neu Adran Damweiniau ac Achosion Brys, ac am nad oes angen gwneud apwyntiad, maen nhw’n medru cynnig mynediad cyflym a hyblyg at ofal iechyd.”
Dyma’r fferyllfeydd sy’n cynnig y gwasanaeth:
Sir Gaerfyrddin
Fferyllfa Porth Tywyn Ltd, 11a Ffordd yr Orsaf, Porth Tywyn
Fferyllfa Tesco, Lôn Morfa, Caerfyrddin
Fferyllfa Nigel Williams, Isfryn, Heol Caerfyrddin, Crosshands
Fferyllfa Cydweli, 16 Stryd Y Bont, Cydweli
Fferyllfa Gravells, Stryd Thomas, Llanelli
Fferyllfa Davies, Meddygfa Avenue Villa, Heol Brynmor, Llanelli
Fferyllfa Evans, Tŷ Elli, Vauxhall, Llanelli
Fferyllfa Evans, Machynys, The Avenue, Morfa, Llanelli
Harlow & Knowles, 8 Stryd Y Bont, Penygroes
P Griffiths Ltd, 2 Heol y Meinciau, Pontiets
Fferyllfa Sanclêr, Tŷ Rebecca, Sanclêr
Fferyllfa’r Bont, Dtryd Y Bont, Castell Newydd Emlyn
Ceredigion
Fferyllfa Lloyds, 8-10 North Parade , Aberystwyth
Fferyllfa Penryn, Banc y Dyffryn, Aberporth, Aberteifi
Sir Benfro
Fferyllfa Clunderwen, Crinow Glebe, Clunderwen
Fferyllfa Lloyds, 16-17 Bush Row, Hwlffordd
Fferyllfa Lloyds, 136 Stryd Robert, Aberdaugleddau
Fferyllfa Lloyds, Canolfan Iechyd, Heol Northfield, Arberth
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