Brynhyfryd Medical Centre

13/07/2026

A community hub providing regular access to health and wellbeing support in Swansea is continuing to grow following a successful pilot.

The Penderi Wellbeing Hub was developed by the Penderi Local Cluster Collaborative (LCC) as a place where local residents could drop in and chat to various services and organisations.

Now, it is being delivered in partnership with Swansea Council’s CREST (Community, Recovery, Education, Skills and Training) mental health and wellbeing service based in Cwmbwrla.

The expansion will help create a stronger emphasis on health and wellbeing and mental health support available in the community.

The hub is now based at CREST Recovery College, on Heol y Gors, every Monday between 12.30pm and 3.30pm.

It will run alongside CREST’s popular wellbeing café on a Monday, helping to create a welcoming and supportive environment for local residents.

The hub will provide a free, informal drop-in where people can access advice, information and support from a range of local organisations, as well as opportunities to connect with others in their community.

Each week, a range of organisations attend on a rotating basis, offering support on topics including mental health and wellbeing, lifestyle changes, community activities and practical advice.

Penderi LCC lead and GP at Fforestfach Medical Centre, Dr Sowndarya Shivaraj said: “Following on from the successful pilot, we have established a strong collaboration with CREST and developed the Penderi Wellbeing Hub.

“The hub will allow people to access information and support on a more regular basis, and it is very convenient for patients within our cluster as it is based close to their homes.

“They will also benefit from the wider support and activities on offer at CREST as it provides lots of activities and has support groups taking place.

“The timetable of organisations who will be attending will be released a month in advance so people will know which services will be based at the hub.

“We also hope GP practices, pharmacies, dental practices and health visitors will direct patients to the hub so they can access the right services and support at the right time, close to home.”

A range of partners including Local Area Coordinators, Citizens Advice, Swansea City AFC Foundation and the health board’s Help Me Quit team attend the hub, alongside other community organisations.

Through its partnership with CREST, the hub will now also offer enhanced mental health support in a relaxed, non-clinical setting, with staff and volunteers available every week to provide a listening ear and guidance.

Sharlene Goshawk, service manager at CREST, said: “Working in partnership with Penderi LCC has allowed us to build on what was already a strong community offer and create something even more accessible and inclusive.

“By bringing together health, social care and third sector partners in one space, we’re making it easier for people to get the support they need, particularly around mental health and wellbeing.

“Whether someone wants to come in for a chat over a cup of tea, is feeling anxious or overwhelmed, or needs help to access longer-term support, there is always someone here to listen and help them take that next step.”

Pictured: Dr Sowndarya Shivaraj, Penderi LCC lead, Sharlene Goshawk, CREST service manager, Alex Smith, tutor facilitator at CREST, Ian Richards, peer support lead at CREST, and Dawn Burford, cluster development support manager.

11/07/2026

This summer, the Imms teams are offering the Meningitis B (MenB) vaccine as part of a time-limited catch-up programme to help protect eligible young people against meningococcal group B disease.

Please find below information regarding the MenB vaccination programme.

Eligible Cohorts
✅ Young people aged 17–18 years
• Born between 01/09/2007 and 31/08/2008.
• Eligible individuals will receive a letter inviting them for their MenB vaccination.

✅ Students under 25 years of age
• Born on or after 21/07/2001.
• Starting undergraduate higher education or residential further education for the first time in Autumn 2026.
• These individuals will not receive a letter but can attend one of our vaccination sessions or book an appointment using the online booking link/QR code.

• Contact the Booking Team to arrange an appointment.
01792 200492
• Use the online booking link/QR:

09/07/2026

We are aware people may be buying Retatrutide to help with weight loss.

Please be aware this is an investigational triple-agonist weight loss medication that is not currently approved for medical use in the UK 🚫

It is illegal to buy or sell it for personal use. The only legal and safe way to access it in the UK is by participating in regulated clinical trials.

If you are looking to purchase GLP1 medication privately the health board has put together this information in the link below ⬇️

GLP-1 receptor agonists are a type of medication used to help manage blood sugar levels and support weight loss. They work by mimicking a natural hormone that helps regulate appetite, slow digestion, and improve how your body uses insulin. These injections are prescribed for people with type 2 diabe...

07/07/2026

We are recruiting, please follow link for more information:

To improve our site we'd also like to use cookies which will send information to Google Analytics. You can read more about our cookies before you choose.

07/07/2026

29/06/2026

🛈 Update 01.07.26 – We have stood down the Business Continuity Incident (BCI). But our services remain busy. You can help us by using alternatives to the ED (A&E) when it’s urgent but not an emergency – see full details and advice below.

--------

Morriston Hospital’s Emergency Department (A&E) remains extremely busy today -Monday 29th June - which means there are very long waits.

We are prioritising the high numbers of seriously ill and injured patients who need emergency care and admission to hospital.

As a result, we continue to declare a Business Continuity Incident or BCI - the highest level of emergency pressures.

Staff across our services and sites are taking key actions in response.

You can help by using alternatives to the ED (A&E) when it’s urgent but not an emergency. We have listed other ways to get advice and care below. 👇

However, for all serious illnesses and severe injuries you MUST still attend the ED. Seriously ill/injured people (children and adults) are prioritised and seen urgently, even if the ED is very busy.

Here are the other options for urgent care when it’s not an emergency:

• If you have a minor injury, go to the Minor Injury Unit at Neath Port Talbot Hospital, Baglan Way, Port Talbot, SA12 7BX. It’s open 8am to 9pm, seven days a week. It can treat adults and children over one with minor injuries such as cuts, burns, sprains, strains, dislocations and broken bones. IMPORTANT: DO NOT go to the Minor Injury Unit with a suspected heart attack, cardiac arrest, chest pains, stroke etc, or with severe injuries. It has no doctors and CANNOT treat you. Your care will be delayed, so you could get much sicker or even die. You MUST go to the ED if you are seriously ill or severely injured. For more info: https://sbuhb.nhs.wales/urgentout-of-hours/minor-injury-unit-neath-port-talbot/

• Visit the NHS 111 Wales website: https://111.wales.nhs.uk/selfassessments/?locale=en&term=A or telephone 111 for advice when it’s not an emergency.

• Visit your local chemist as pharmacists are experts in medicines and trained to offer advice. They can recommend over-the-counter medication for coughs, colds, rashes, bites, aches and pains and, under the Common Ailments Service, offer free medication for certain conditions. More info: https://sbuhb.nhs.wales/urgentout-of-hours/need-urgent-care/

• Out of hours: Contact the GP Out of Hours Service by ringing 111.

Thank you for your continued support.

25/06/2026

Diabetes and Hot Weather

Sitting in the sun for long periods may affect your diabetes because you are not being very active, making blood sugar levels higher than normal. However if you take insulin to treat diabetes it maybe absorbed quicker which can increase the risk of a hypo (low blood sugar).

We have put together some top tips for managing diabetes safely in the heat

• Test your blood sugars more often and be ready to adjust your dose or diet if necessary
• Keep your blood sugar machine and testing strips out of the sun, extreme temperatures can affect the meters and testing strips.
• If you are on an insulin pump make sure you follow the manufacturer guidelines, be aware your pump reservoir may need changing more frequently
• If you wear a continuous glucose meter (CGM) and need to change it, make sure the area is clean and free of sunscreen to ensure the CGM sticks properly to the site
• Any tablets where possible should be kept at normal room temperature
• Remain hydrated, squash or water is preferred. Becoming dehydrated increase your risk of Hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic syndrome (HHS) and Diabetic Ketoacids (DKA) which requires emergency treatment.

Make sure insulin is stored correctly (fridge) if out and about, where possible try and carry in a cooler bag, insulin can be damaged by heat, if insulin has become damaged, the insulin will become cloudy and cloudy insulin tends to stick to the side of the glass. Insulin which has been left exposed to direct sunlight can turn a brownish colour, do not use the insulin and get a fresh one.

If you are out and about, keep some extra hypo treatments on you (dextrose tablets, jelly babies or small carton of orange juice). Try and wear light loose clothing, apply the appropriate screening to exposed areas of your body and ensure footwear is safe and appropriate.

To find out more about staying safe in the heat please see our webpage or visit the official Diabetes UK website

17/06/2026

Following the recent announcement regarding the MenB vaccination, please contact the Immunisation Team on 01792 200492 if you require any further informaton.

09/06/2026

People living with diabetes are being empowered to manage their condition thanks to educational sessions run by dietitians.

There are two different group sessions available to patients in Swansea Bay with type 2 diabetes.

The first is a one-off diabetes awareness session which provides information around how to manage the condition, glucose levels and nutrition, among other things.

While the second, the X-PERT diabetes self-management course, is a national programme which covers a range of themes over six weekly sessions.

People can either refer themselves to the sessions or can be referred by their GP or practice nurse.

It is hoped that by teaching patients about the chronic condition and its potential long-term effects, they will be given the tools to manage their condition independently.

Swansea Bay’s nutrition and dietetics community service clinical lead, Debbie Lavelle, said: “We offer the two different structured diabetes education groups, so people can choose what is best for them.

“Patients can self-refer or they can be referred by their GP practice too.

“The sessions are both in-person and virtual so people have a choice of what they would prefer. The in-person sessions are held in the community across Swansea and Neath Port Talbot.

“The groups are run by dietitians and are about empowering the patient to look after their diabetes and hopefully we give them the tools to do that.”

The one-off diabetes awareness session lasts around two and a half hours and emphasises the importance of nutrition when it comes to managing the condition.

Lucie Bentley is one of the health board’s dietitians that has delivered both the awareness session and the longer X-PERT self-management course.

“With the diabetes awareness session, we initially provide an explanation of diabetes and talk about lifestyle factors such as stress, sleep, activity and more,” she said.

“We go through how food and weight impact diabetic control, so we talk about carbohydrate awareness and blood glucose values.

“We also talk about the differences between type 1 and type 2, because a lot of people can get those misunderstood, as well as short-term and long-term effects.

“At the end of the session, we make patients aware of the X-PERT course so if they want more information, they can join that.”

Those who take part in the X-PERT programme are given booklets that they can work through at home, in addition to the group sessions.

Similar topics are covered throughout the programme but in greater detail, with a lot of the information more individualised.

Lucie added: “We do find a lot of people who have completed the diabetes awareness session choose to join the X-PERT programme too because they want that continuity.

“We go through everything in a lot more depth. We start off with a health check, so patients can note down their health markers which are relevant to diabetes, and we talk about blood tests and how they relate to diabetes.

“In another session, we go into more detail about carbohydrate awareness, dietary approaches and a nutrition for health session.

“We also look at the psychology of eating, which I think is very beneficial for some of the participants. That session looks at eating behaviours, long term habits, food shopping tips and dining out.

“During the last session, we look at the long-term effects of diabetes and do a recap of everyone’s knowledge.”

Sioned Quirke, Swansea Bay’s Head of Nutrition and Dietetics, said: “Knowledge is power and we want to empower our patients to be able to make choices that will work for them.

“We appreciate that everyone is different and a ‘one size fits all’ approach isn’t always going to work for everyone.

“Therefore, with the knowledge we provide, patients can tailor the advice to suit their lifestyles.”

To find more information about the sessions and to book on, you can email [email protected] or call 01639 862928.

Pictured: Debbie Lavelle, nutrition and dietetics community service clinical lead, and Lucie Bentley, diabetes dietitian.