Riverside Surgery

12/03/2026

Don’t ignore your smar invites ladies!! 💕🩷💕

06/03/2026

🌼 Spring is on its way… but Riverside Surgery is still as busy as ever! 🌼

As the days start getting a little longer and the first signs of spring appear, the team here at Riverside Surgery continues to work incredibly hard behind the scenes. While the seasons change, the demand for appointments, advice, and care remains very high, and our team is here every day doing their very best to support our community.

We’re so grateful to our patients for their patience, kindness, and understanding during these busy times. Your support means a lot to our whole team. 💙

Thank you for continuing to work with us and for being part of the community.

04/03/2026

🚨 Important Update from Riverside Surgery 🚨

Due to staff shortages today, we are unfortunately only able to offer emergency appointments. This means appointments will be prioritised for urgent medical problems that cannot safely wait.

If your problem is routine or non-urgent, please consider using the other healthcare services available locally:

💊 Community Pharmacists (Choose Pharmacy)
Your pharmacist can help with many common conditions such as sore throats, ear infections, UTIs, skin conditions, coughs and colds, and provide advice and treatment without needing a GP appointment.

📞 NHS 111 Wales
If you are unsure what to do, you can call 111 for free or visit 111.wales.nhs.uk for advice and guidance. They can direct you to the most appropriate service.

🏥 Urgent Primary Care Centres / Minor Injury Units
For urgent problems that are not life-threatening, you may be directed to a local urgent care service. NHS 111 can advise where the most appropriate centre is.

🚑 Emergency Care
For serious or life-threatening emergencies, please dial 999 or attend A&E.

We truly appreciate your patience, kindness and understanding during very challenging days like this. Your support means a lot to our team who are working extremely hard to keep services running safely.

Thank you for bearing with us 💙

24/02/2026

📢 Surgery Closure for Staff Training 📢

Please be aware that the surgery will be closed from 1.30pm tomorrow afternoon to allow our team to take part in essential staff training.

During this time, alternative healthcare services remain available if you need support:

🏥 NHS 111
For urgent medical advice and guidance, available 24/7, online or by phone.

💊 Community Pharmacies
Your local pharmacist can help with minor illnesses, medication advice and urgent supplies.

🚑 Urgent Primary Care Centres / Minor Injury Units
For urgent but non life threatening conditions.

🚨 Emergency Services
If it is a medical emergency, please call 999 or attend A&E.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support. Staff training is vital to ensure we can keep providing safe, high quality care for our patients 💙

24/02/2026

The month of January was incredibly busy at the surgery and it really reflects just how high demand has been throughout this month. Our team has been working flat out to support patients and keep things running as smoothly as possible.

A huge thank you to our patients for your patience, understanding and kindness during what has been an exceptionally busy period. We truly appreciate your support while we continue to do our very best for everyone 💙

17/02/2026

🦵🏼 Adult Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy – Self Referral Now Available

Did you know you can self refer directly to Adult Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy if you are aged 16 and over?

The Physiotherapy Access Clinic (PAC) allows you to book an appointment without needing a GP referral.

🔗 Self referral and booking information:
https://sbuhb.nhs.wales/hospitals/a-z-services/physiotherapy/

📅 Appointments available:
Monday to Friday
Various locations across Swansea Bay

⏰ Important to note:
Appointments are released 72 hours (3 days) before the appointment date, so please check the website regularly for availability.

📞 Need help using the digital service?
PAC Digital Support Team: 01639 862574

📱 You can also scan the QR code in the image below, which will take you straight to the PAC webpage.

Please share to help others access physiotherapy support quickly and easily 🩵

Musculoskeletal physiotherapy services are provided on the following sites within Swansea Bay University Health Board:

12/02/2026

📢 Important Information – National Shortage of Co-codamol

We would like to make patients aware that there is currently a national shortage of co-codamol affecting pharmacies across the UK.

This means some strengths of co-codamol may not be readily available at your usual pharmacy. This issue is outside of the control of Riverside Surgery and local pharmacies.

💊 What this means for you:
• You may be asked to visit more than one pharmacy
• Your pharmacist may offer an equivalent alternative
• In some cases, we may need to review your medication and prescribe a suitable substitute

Please be assured that we will work with local pharmacies to support safe alternatives where required. We kindly ask for your patience and understanding during this time.

If you are unable to obtain your medication, please speak directly to your pharmacist first. If further advice is needed, contact the surgery and our clinical team will review your request.

Thank you for your continued cooperation 💙
Team Riverside

27/01/2026

💜 Let’s Talk Vaginal & Gynaecological Cancers 💜

Gynaecological cancers include cancers of the womb (uterus), cervix, ovaries, va**na and v***a. They can affect women of all ages — and knowing the symptoms can genuinely save lives.

Most symptoms are not caused by cancer, but they should always be checked.

🚩 Symptoms to look out for:
• Unusual va**nal bleeding (after menopause, after s*x, or between periods)
• Persistent pelvic or lower tummy pain
• Bloating that doesn’t go away
• Pain during s*x
• Changes in va**nal discharge
• Itching, lumps, or sores around the v***a
• Needing to wee more often without infection

If something feels different, unusual, or persistent for more than 2–3 weeks, please don’t ignore it.

✔️ Cervical screening (smear tests) saves lives.
✔️ HPV vaccination helps prevent cervical cancer.
✔️ Early diagnosis greatly improves outcomes.

We understand these symptoms can feel embarrassing to talk about — but to us, this is healthcare. Nothing is awkward, and everything is confidential.

If you’re worried, book an appointment and let’s check things properly. 💙

22/01/2026

RSV Vaccination – Protecting Your Health This Winter 💙

If you are aged 75 and over, the RSV vaccine is an important way to protect your health.

🦠 What is RSV?
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a common virus that can cause serious chest infections, pneumonia, and hospital admission in older adults.

✅ Why the vaccine matters:
• Reduces the risk of severe illness
• Helps prevent hospital admission
• Protects your independence and wellbeing
• Reduces pressure on NHS services during winter

👵👴 As we get older, our immune systems are less able to fight infections, making RSV more dangerous. Vaccination provides vital protection when you need it most.

📞 Eligible patients aged 75+ are strongly encouraged to take up the RSV vaccine when invited. It is safe, effective, and could make a real difference to your health.

💬 If you have any questions or are unsure whether you are eligible, please contact the surgery and our team will be happy to help.

One simple vaccine. Powerful protection.

14/01/2026

Weight loss injections & the contraceptive pill – important info 💉💊

If you’re using weight loss injections, please be aware 👇
• Common side effects include nausea 🤢, vomiting 🤮 and diarrhoea 🚽
• Vomiting or diarrhoea can stop the contraceptive pill being absorbed properly, making it less effective ⚠️

Important update about Mounjaro (tirzepatide):
🔍 Recent research shows Mounjaro can reduce how well the oral contraceptive pill works
⏰ This is especially important for the first 4 weeks after starting and 4 weeks after each dose increase

👉 If you take the pill and are using Mounjaro:
• Use condoms as well during these times 🛡️
• Or consider a non-oral contraceptive method (implant, coil, injection)

If you’re unsure what applies to you, please speak to us at the surgery or the s*xual health service 💬
🩵🩷

13/01/2026

10/01/2026

🎄✨ December at the Surgery – It Wasn’t Just Santa Working Hard! ✨🎄

December was an incredibly busy month for our team – while Santa was delivering presents, our staff were delivering care every single day. 🎅🏽💙

We supported our patients through:
📞 A very high volume of calls
🩺 Hundreds of appointments and clinical reviews
💉 Seasonal vaccinations and urgent care
📋 Prescriptions, results, and ongoing support behind the scenes

Our team worked tirelessly to make sure patients received safe, timely, and compassionate care throughout the festive period.

We hope all of our patients had a restful Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year 🎄✨
Thank you, as always, for your patience, understanding, and continued support. 💙

Here’s to moving into the new year together 💫