Pencoed Registrars

Dr D A Ware · Dr G V Price · Dr J A Crane · Dr G A Preest· Dr O Thomas

This section is designed to provide online support for Doctors undertaking postgraduate training in Primary Care at Pencoed Medical Centre

Click the button below to visit the Bridgend VTS website:

Where are we?
We are the closest practice to Cardiff on the Bridgend Scheme! The easiest way to get to us is via the M4 motorway. Turn off at Junction 35 and head for "Pencoed". Turn left into "Felindre Road" at the first roundabout. When you reach the junction at the end of Felindre Road, turn RIGHT. Then first RIGHT into "Glossop Terrace" (before the petrol station). You will find the Medical Centre on the right hand side.
Please see the respective surgery pages by clicking the buttons above to get more information about our main Pencoed surgery and Llanharan branch surgery.

Bridgend to Pencoed - approx. 15 minutes by car
Cardiff City Centre to Pencoed - approx. 25 minutes (40 minutes at rush hour) by car
Cardiff (outskirts) to Pencoed - approx. 15 - 20 minutes
Our Llanharan branch surgery is even closer (the next junction off M4 after Cardiff Coryton junction)

Click on the address below to view our location on Google maps

Main Surgery: The Medical Centre, Heol yr Onnen, Pencoed, Bridgend CF35 5PF
Branch Surgery: The Medical Centre, Tredegar Avenue, Llanharan, Pontyclun CF72 9QU

On-call
On call commitments are being re evaluated under the new contract. This practice no longer provides out of hours cover. Emergency out of hours cover is now the responsibility of the LHB and is provided by Primecare

Weekly timetable
Your schedule runs on a 2 week rolling timetable. Click on the button, above to view.

A to Z
This is the complete A to Z of what you need to know as a new Registrar at Pencoed Medical Centre. It has been compiled by a previous Registrar and now partner, Dr Tony Crane! If it's not in the A to Z, then it's not worth knowing!! Click on the button, above to view.

Assessment form
This is a downloadable form for new Registrars to print out. We ask new Registrars to fill in this form for our records. If you are really organised, you could print it out, fill it in and bring it along when you start! Click on the button, above to view.

What equipment will I need?

Take it easy for the first week - you won't be thrown in at the deep end, so there's no need to rush out to buy equipment. Remember to keep any receipts, because you can claim back the tax for replacement equipment. A basic medical bag consists of the following:

	Medical bag - Take a little time to choose the right bag for you. The purpose built cases are exceptionally expensive for what they are (little more than a "high street" briefcase with a cheap foam insert). Some Registrars buy aluminium camera cases (but the quality varies). If you buy an aluminium case, don't be tempted buy one of the cheap ones from DIY stores because they're not up to the wear and tear of continuous use. Same thing goes for fabric bags. Perhaps the best option is to buy a good quality (e.g.Samsonite) leather briefcase and fit your own foam insert (from any upholstery shop). Dragging a large bag around can be an arduous task. You may wish to use a smaller bag for calls and keep a second bag in the boot of the car for heavier equipment.
	Stethoscope - This is probably the only piece of equipment that you don't need to buy!
	Otoscope/opthalmoscope - These are very expensive (£100 - £300, average £180), but worth buying well. It should last the rest of your career. Remember to keep a spare set of batteries and bulbs handy (i.e. in your car, if you haven't got space) - it is a real pain trying to work without an otoscope and you don't want to have to rush to a specialist shop for a replacement bulb in the middle of a busy week.
	BP cuff - Plenty to choose from, just make sure that it's portable. Don't buy the desktop version.
	Pen torch - "Mini Mag lites" are, arguably, the best performing and longest lasting - buy them from a supermarket or Boots (cheaper).
	Thermometer - Very useful. The latest electronic tympanic thermometers are excellent and provide an answer within 3 seconds (if you see 30 patients and have to wait a minute with each, it will add half an hour to surgery!!) - but you can use cheaper ones. Don't bother with mercury or heat sensitive skin strips - they're either too fragile or no more accurate than your own sense of touch.
	Medicines and consumables - Don't worry about these. We will sort this out with you when you arrive.
	Resuscitation mask - You'll probably never use it, but if you ever need to do mouth to mouth, you'll be glad you've got it. The full size masks are best, but take up a lot of space. If you ever need to use it, then it will need to be close to hand. The specialist shops stock a very portable protective film (as used by the police) that takes up the space of a match box and cost less than £2. It's worth keeping one of these in your case.
	Optional items - You will need all of the above and you will start to use them as soon as you start seeing patients on your own (usually after a few days). Other equipment e.g. tendon hammer, tuning fork, peak flow meter - are all useful, but not the first on your list. Some of the pharmaceutical reps provide these items, so it's worth waiting before rushing out to buy.

Most equipment can be bought at Medical Supplies outlets e.g. BCB in Cardiff. Specialist outlets can be expensive, so buy as much as you can (e.g. torches, thermometers) at supermarkets or "Boots". Beware specialist mail order outlets claiming price reductions - they're often grossly overpriced to start with and you'll rarely get a bargain, in my experience.
"Pulse" magazine have a web based medical store where you can view and order online. Click here to visit their web site.
"Doctor" magazine for GPs will also sell equipment by mail order. To contact them by e-mail, please Click here (we should ask for commission really, shouldn't we?)