Cluster projects
Pharmacy work
Spread across 10 sites over the Swansea and Dulais Valleys, our team works hard to support patients with chronic conditions, medication reviews and repeat prescribing.
In addition to this, they are also working towards supporting patients to move towards more environmentally friendly products, in line with the health board's move towards becoming a greener organisation. An example of this is changing inhalers.
Clinical pharmacists (advanced practice pharmacists) contribute to clinical work related to medicines in GP practices.
They have in-depth knowledge of diseases and medicines and work either in a specialist clinical area or have a more generic role, addressing a range of medicines-related issues within the practices.
As part of the cluster team, our clinical pharmacists provide specialist advice for patients particularly the elderly, those taking multiple medicines (polypharmacy), and those with multiple conditions.
Through taking responsibility for patients with long-term conditions, clinical pharmacists free up GPs for other appointments and so help to reduce the numbers of people presenting at the Emergency Department.
Audiology service
Swansea Bay’s primary care audiology services delivers quicker specialist access for patients in the community.
Patients with hearing problems, tinnitus or problematic wax can now phone their surgery’s telephone triage system and book directly to see one of the primary care audiology teams at designated clinics.
It replaces the previous system which included a surgery appointment with a GP or practice nurse, who would then refer the patient to the audiology team.
The service within Upper Valleys Cluster is hosted in Port Talbot Resource Centre.
The service is in line with the Welsh Government’s vision for transforming primary care across Wales, and the emphasis on providing a range of quality health and social care services in the community.
It also offers advice and directs patients to information that will help them make decisions on their hearing care and manage the effects of their hearing loss and tinnitus.
Help Me Quit
If you are thinking about stopping smoking there is no better time than now. In this section you will find information and links to support services.
Quitting not only has immediate benefits for yourself, but also loved ones who breathe in your second hand smoke.
Stop smoking - start saving
Go here to find out What Is Smoking Costing Me? | Help Me Quit
*Smoking 20 cigarettes per day could save you over £3,000 a year by stopping smoking
Quit for good with FREE expert support tailored to you from Help Me Quit.
Call 0800 085 2219 or Go here to request a call back | Help Me Quit
*based on average price of 20 pack king sized a day
More information
- Help Me Quit offers free confidential and non-judgemental support from a friendly stop smoking expert
- Support that is either face to face, virtual or over the phone
- Support that is either one to one or a group session with other smokers
- Weekly sessions tailored to meet your needs
- Monitoring your progress
- Access to free stop smoking medication including nicotine patches and one additional oral product such as gum or an inhalator
If you would like to refer yourself into the service, you can contact Help Me Quit on 0800 085 2219 or text HMQ to 80818. If you would like to access support via a pharmacy, visit your local pharmacy for further information.
Go to the Public Health Wales website for detailed advice on quitting smoking.
Go here to visit Action on Smoking and Health - Using NRT to help you stop smoking (ash.wales)
Inhaler recycling scheme
Led by the Vale of Neath Pharmacy the cluster initiated a very successful inhaler recycling scheme to encourage patients to return their metered dose and dry powder inhalers to any of the 10 pharmacies in the cluster, promoting their safe disposal and simultaneously helping the environment to promote a greener Wales.
Mental health provision
Social prescribing
Emerging evidence shows that social prescribing leads to a range of positive health and wellbeing outcomes, such as improved quality of life and emotional wellbeing.
In addition, research shows that social prescribing can reduce the amount of GP appointments and hospital admissions.
Upper Valleys Cluster benefits from a social prescriber who is targeted at adults aged 18 and over, and works particularly well for people who:
- have one or more long term condition
- who need support with low level mental health issues
- who are lonely or isolated
- who have complex social needs which affect their wellbeing
The social prescribers provide provide fast access to information and support for people who can be supported better in their own community and they complement other approaches in a local area such as active signposting, local knowledge and resource directories. As such patients in the Upper Valleys are better informed of what is available to them in their own community.
If you feel this service might be of benefit to you, please go to your GP practice and ask at reception for them to refer you.
They will be able to advise you of a date when you could be seen without the need of a GP appointment.
Mental health link worker
In Upper Valleys we are one of a select few clusters who have a mental health link worker at our disposal. The link worker a trained mental health nurse accepts referrals from all four GP practices and handles low level mental health issues assessing patients and signposting them to a wide range of cluster and community services as appropriate.
One to one counselling service
Upper Valleys Cluster currently supports the provision of one-to-one counselling for its patients. This is for the benefit of adult patients with mild to moderate mental health needs. Referral is via the GP Practices. The GP will assess the patient and make this recommendation if deemed appropriate.
Occupational therapist
Upper Valleys Cluster employs a part time occupational therapist funded by cluster. The role of the occupational therapist is to provide support to patients with frailty and mobility issues and can support in a variety of ways including home visits to make recommendations for home improvements and adaptations.
Rydym yn croesawu gohebiaeth a galwadau ffôn yn y Gymraeg neu'r Saesneg. Atebir gohebiaeth Gymraeg yn y Gymraeg, ac ni fydd hyn yn arwain at oedi. Mae’r dudalen hon ar gael yn Gymraeg drwy bwyso’r botwm ar y dde ar frig y dudalen.
We welcome correspondence and telephone calls in Welsh or English. Welsh language correspondence will be replied to in Welsh, and this will not lead to a delay. This page is available in Welsh by clicking ‘Cymraeg’ at the top right of this page.