Hywel Dda University Health Board has created resources, including videos called “My Health, My Choice”, to provide people in Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion with easy-to-understand information about accessing Primary Care in their communities.

Primary Care services include GP practices, Community Pharmacies, NHS dental services and Optometric Practices (commonly referred to as Opticians). These are all an essential part of the way in which services are provided for our population. Knowing how and when to use these services can ensure that people make the right choice about which service they may need to access and get appropriate advice or treatment more quickly.

Jill Paterson, Director of Primary Care, Community and Long-Term Care for Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “It is really important for patients to understand which services are available locally and how and when to access them, and of course to think about what patients can do themselves to maintain  their own health and well-being.”

“We have created the ‘My Health My Choice’ resources with the aim of empowering people to take charge of their health. Knowing when and where to seek help will allow people to get the right care at the right time. We hope that these resources will help individuals and our local Communities to make best use of their local services so that they can be more efficient and accessible for everyone”.

The “My Health My Choice” resources and short bilingual videos are available to watch online at https://hduhb.nhs.wales/primary-care-information. Posters with QR codes linking to these resources will be available at GP Practices, Community Pharmacies, NHS Dental Practices, Optometrists, Hospitals, and Community Centres. Information is also being sent to schools and will be used on the Health Board’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and X.