Out of hours
If you require urgent medical attention between 6.30 pm and 8 am every day and on Bank Holidays and weekends the GP Out of Hours Service provides care. They can be accessed by phoning 111 or 0345 46 47.
If you have a medical emergency such as severe bleeding, collapse, unconsciousness and severe chest pains: TELEPHONE 999 IMMEDIATELY
Appointments
Our Receptionists may ask you what your appointment is for – they do this to help our clinicians to prioritise their workload. Also they want to ensure your appointment is booked with the most appropriate clinician.
Pre-bookable appointments are also available to book via the NHS Wales App. Download the app from your smartphone or tablets app store or use the desktop version here
Our clinical staff will always do their utmost to see patients quickly especially if the request is urgent. To achieve this you may be asked to attend surgery later in the day, or to have a telephone consultation with a GP.
Some of our Nurses are also fully trained in minor illness and are independent prescribers. Patients can book appointments with our Nurses and can be examined and given treatment as needed. They are qualified to treat minor illnesses e.g. throat, ear and chest infections.
You can request a call-back to make a non-urgent appointment via email to appointments.w93036@wales.nhs.uk. Please include as much information as possible about the reason for your request. This email must not be used for urgent requests.
Artificial Intelligence
Castle Gate Medical Practice is committed to providing you with the highest quality of care. To enhance our service, we now have access to Heidi Health, an AI-powered medical scribe tool. AI Info for patients.
To enhance the quality and efficiency of our consultations, clinicians (your GP or a member of the multidisciplinary team within practice) may use Heidi Health AI Scribe during your appointment. You can click here to visit their website and find out more about them.
Failed Appointments
Due to an increase in the number of wasted appointments through patient’s failing to attend without informing the surgery, it has become necessary to implement the following policy for DNAs (Did Not Attend):
- If you repeatedly fail to attend appointments you may be removed from our Practice list and will therefore need to find an alternative GP Practice.
- If you cannot attend your appointments for any reason, please do let us know as soon as possible, as we are then able to offer the appointment to someone else. You can do this via telephone or the NHS Wales App.
Chaperones
Chaperones are trained members of staff who can, if requested by you or a healthcare professional, accompany patients during a consultation.
Cervical Smears
Cervical smear tests can be arranged by booking an appointment with the Practice Nurse. Women aged 25-64, invited 5 yearly.
Child Vaccinations
These are undertaken by our Practice Nurses in Monmouth and Raglan. Immunisation reminders are sent by Child Health directly to patients to ensure vaccinations are booked in at the right times.
Home Visits
Whilst we encourage our patients to come to the surgery, where we have the proper equipment and facilities available, we do appreciate this is not always possible for housebound or critically ill patients.
- If you or someone you care for need a home visit, you can help us by calling reception before 12:00.
- You may only request a home visit if you are housebound or are too ill to visit the practice. Your GP will only visit you at home if they think that your medical condition is urgent and they will also decide how urgently a visit is needed. Please bear this in mind and be prepared to provide sufficient details to enable reception staff to schedule house calls; please provide the member of staff with details of your symptoms and an up to date contact telephone number.
- You may also be visited at home by a community nurse if you are referred by your GP. This is done for patients who are unable to leave their home.
Contraceptive Services, Family Planning Clinic and HRT
Our Practice Nurse team will be able to give you advice regarding contraception including coil fittings and Nexplanon fittings/changes. These proceedures can then be performed in the surgery by our own GPs.
Minor Surgery
After consultation, if the GP considers it necessary for you to have a minor operation and this procedure can be carried out at the Surgery, you can be offered a minor surgery appointment. Minor operations include removal of certain skin cysts, ingrowing toe nails, incision of abscesses, joint injections.
Travel Health
Our Nursing team offer travel vaccination information, advice and immunisations. Please complete the travel vaccination leaflet which is available from Reception. We are a registered Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre but this is only carried out in one of the sites (currently Raglan).
Chronic Disease Clinics
We provide diabetes, asthma, blood pressure, stroke and heart clinics for our patients.
Blood test requests from secondary care consultants
If a hospital consultant has requested that you have a blood test these are carried out in Hospital Phlebotomy clinics. Timings are listed below (Updated June 2024):
Monnow Vale (for Welsh secondary care requested bloods) – 09.00 – 12:00 (Monday and Friday). Call 01600 773113 to make an appointment
Nevill Hall (for Welsh secondary care requested bloods) – 08.45 – 16.15 (Monday to Friday). Walk-in clinic
Hereford County Hospital (for Herefordshire secondary care requested bloods)
Call 01432 372924 for more details
Gloucester Royal Hospital (for Gloucester secondary care requested bloods)
Call 0300 422 5293
We can however book PSAs, MGUS Bloods, Velindre Bloods and Bloods that are requested on Hospital discharges
Private Services (non NHS)
Please note: Reports may take up to 6 weeks to produce
All fees are inclusive of VAT (if applicable) and we require payment before work on your report can begin.
HGV Medical – Please note that this does not include the eyesight check, this must be completed by an optician prior to your appointment with the GP – £110.00
PSV/Foster/Seafarer/Expedition or Holiday Cancellation Medicals – £110.00
Pre-Employment Medical – £110.00
Private Insurance Medical – £110.00
Firearms License Form – £110.00
Insurance Forms (pensions, life insurance, mortgage application) – £110.00
Holiday Cancellation Form – £90.00
Certificate of Vaccination – £45.00
Fitness to Participate/Travel Form – £110.00
Letter for Schools or Benefits – £40.00
DVLA Fitness to Drive Form – £48.00-£102.00
Private Sick Note – £45.00
Private prescription (£30 admin charge for script) medication charge will be extra – £30.00
Private consultation (non NHS patients only) – £80.00
For information on travel vaccinations and fees please refer to the travel immunisation form available from Reception at the surgery.