Gelligaer to receive new GP surgery

Date: 29/07/2011

New 0300 numbers could be put to use at a GP surgery due to open in Wales next year.

The site, located in Gelligaer, Caerphilly, is currently under construction and will replace the current facility, local newspaper the Campaign reports.

It will offer an improved service to local residents and part of the two-storey structure will be used as a training centre for GPs.

Service development manager for Aneurin Bevan Health Board Nigel Edwards was quoted by the news source as saying new facilities have been needed in the town "for some time now".

Opting to use 0300 numbers to enable patients to contact the surgery may be the best move for the health authority, as a facility in Essex has been criticised by patients for using 0844 contact numbers, which cost more to call than standard geographical numbers.

According to the Ongar Gazette, the Ongar Health Centre is continuing to use the prefix in spite of Department of Health legislation stating call costs should be kept to a minimum.