Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board

13/03/2026

The Easter bank holidays are coming up and most local pharmacies will be closed on Good Friday (3 April) and Easter Monday (6 April).

❗ Remember to check and order your repeat prescription 7 days before you need your medication to avoid delays and help your GP and pharmacy team manage demand.

13/03/2026

🏥We have secured £42 million of funding from Welsh Government to deliver the third and final phase of the major refurbishment programme at Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil.

This latest investment marks a significant milestone in the transformation of the hospital, one that will ultimately see the hospital effectively rebuilt from the inside out to provide modern, safe and future proofed facilities for patients, visitors and staff.

https://ctmuhb.nhs.wales/news/latest-news/42m-funding-secured-for-final-phase-of-prince-charles-hospital-redevelopment/

13/03/2026

If you are experiencing problems with your eyes, like red or sore eyes, floaters or flashing lights, an optometrist can provide you with free advice and treatment without needing to see your GP.

Visit www.gov.wales/HelpUsHelpYou to find out more about NHS funded optometry services in Wales.

13/03/2026

13/03/2026

Welcome to the world Brandon, who was born at Prince Charles Hospital. 💙

Mam, Chloe, shared: “A massive thank you - from the whole team during my C-section, the wonderful student midwife, Kira, and midwife Jane who came in with us and put up with my partner’s jokes the whole time, my anaesthetist Neeta and Dale who reassured me the day before, all the way to everyone in Ward 21 where we ended up spending a total of five days.

The wonderful doctors both in the Special Care Baby Unit and on the ward were so lovely and always happy to listen to our concerns.

Thank you to every midwife and maternity support worker who we saw and cared for us and helped for those couple of night feeds - both Ruth’s, Meena, Julie, I’m sorry I can’t remember all of your names but you were all so wonderful.”

12/03/2026

There’s still time to get your free flu vaccination if you’re eligible. The autumn/winter flu vaccination will not be available after 31 March 2026.

Even though we’re heading into spring, flu hasn’t gone away. You can still catch it and pass it on to vulnerable patients, family members and colleagues.

Here’s Deborah, one of our Health Protection Immunisation Nurses at Princess of Wales Hospital to explain how eligible people can still get a flu vaccination.

As well as the community vaccination centre at Princess of Wales Hospital (open 9am to 4.40pm), there are five other CVCs across CTM you can drop into for a flu vaccine. Locations and opening times: https://ctmuhb.nhs.wales/patient-advice/immunisation-and-vaccines/cwm-taf-morgannwg-community-vaccination-centres/

Check if you’re eligible: https://ctmuhb.nhs.wales/flu

12/03/2026

Thank you to our patients for sharing such lovely feedback, this week it's for the Day Surgery Unit at PCH.

"I attended PCH for ankle surgery in the Day Surgery Unit on Ward B10 and I highly commend the staff; everything was very organised, clean and welcoming.

"I would like to say a huge thank you to all the nurses, theatre staff and to my surgeon Miss Tong, and nurse Zoe, for all the care shown throughout my stay and frantic return visit due to complications. They saw me immediately and sorted me out!

"The NHS at its very best, thank you ❤️"

12/03/2026

Bringing live music to our patients, visitors and staff 🎶

We’re excited to be working with Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Staylittle Music to bring uplifting live music sessions to community wards across Cwm Taf Morgannwg.

Thanks to funding from the Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru | Arts Council of Wales - building on our successful 2025 pilot at Ysbyty Cwm Cynon - professional musicians have been popping up in wards, atriums and café areas across our sites every week with acoustic sets, electric guitar sessions and soothing harp performances.

Weekly sessions (1–3pm) are taking place at:

Tuesday: Keir Hardie Health Park
Wednesday: Ysbyty Cwm Cynon
Thursday (alternate weeks): Dewi Sant Health Park & Angelton Glanrhyd Hospital
Friday: Ysbyty Cwm Rhondda

We’re hopeful this programme will continue until at least May 2026.

Our musicians have lots of experience performing in NHS settings — they’ll chat with patients, take song requests and help create a calming, enjoyable atmosphere on the wards and in shared spaces. Music is proven to boost wellbeing, and we’re delighted to bring these therapeutic benefits directly to our communities.

11/03/2026

Lynn shares her journey to becoming smoke-free with Help Me Quit - Helpa Fi i Stopio in 2025.

“I am a 68-year-old woman, who has smoked between 10-12 ci******es a day for approximately fifty years. I suffer from asthma, anxiety and depression and have always used the excuse for smoking that it helped my anxiety and depression but overlooked the asthma. I have tried on many occasions to try and stop without any sort of success.

Over the past two years I have had to cope with extreme pain in my back due to a pr*****ed disc. I managed to make an appointment to have the necessary operation. I also have to undergo an examination to test for COPD and I’m extremely scared of the results.

I knew I had to start looking after my health more and decided to bite the bullet and try and stop. As I have tried on my own in the past I decided to go to HMQ which had been advised by my doctor.

Clare from HMQ made contact. I am not the kind of person who is able to speak to strangers easily, so was rather skeptical and nervous about what would happen.

When I first spoke to Clare I was nervous, but as Clare was very understanding and didn't push me, by the end of that first telephone call, I felt much better. I looked forward to Clare’s call every week and she helped me gather my thoughts about stopping and how it would help with the recovery of both my operation and my health going forward.

It has now been 63 days of non-smoking and I feel so much better. I’ve had my operation and will make an appointment for the COPD test. I have found my sense of smell has increased and my blood pressure is back to a normal reading after suffering from high blood pressure for the last 15 years.

I would advise anyone who wants to give up smoking to contact HMQ as the help received is excellent.”

Our Help Me Quit team will also be holding information stands at some of our sites this week and next. Full details: https://ctmuhb.nhs.wales/news/latest-news/alun-and-lynns-stories-on-becoming-smoke-free/

11/03/2026

This No Smoking Day we are sharing the stories of two of our patients on how Help Me Quit - Helpa Fi i Stopio supported them to become smoke-free. Here's Alun's story 👇

Alun was resuscitated in hospital following a cardiac arrest, and he feels that this is his second chance at life. He is now determined to never smoke again.

Whilst being treated as an inpatient following his heart attack and cardiac arrest, he was referred to the Help Me Quit (HMQ) team. An advisor visited him whilst he was in hospital and discussed the support and treatment options available for help to stop smoking. He was very keen to access the service and determined to quit smoking following his admission.

Ni****ne replacement therapy was provided, he opted for a 24-hour patch and an inhalator to help with the habit of smoking.

After being discharged from hospital, he received a weekly phone call from his advisor, who offered support, guidance, tips and ideas to help navigate through his quit attempt. The phone calls were very helpful and of great benefit, with Alun managing to keep quitting over the Christmas and New Year period.

He was very positive and despite suffering from some ongoing issues and challenges with his health, he has noticed improvement to his wellbeing and also financial savings.

Alun is very keen to highlight the value of HMQ support and the importance of wanting to quit for yourself and not for others. He said: ‘Help Me Quit support was brilliant – it’s important to remember cravings last no time at all and soon disappear. You’ve got to want to give up for yourself – use the Help me Quit Service as it really does help and support you. I am determined to never smoke again – I know I can’t take that risk.’

Our Help Me Quit team will also be holding information stands at some of our sites this week and next. Full details: https://ctmuhb.nhs.wales/news/latest-news/alun-and-lynns-stories-on-becoming-smoke-free/

11/03/2026

👀Take a sneak peek inside the site of the new Bridgend Health and Wellbeing Centre.

Once open this summer, the centre will bring a GP practice and a range of health services together in one place to support the local community.

11/03/2026

Across Wales, people quit smoking for lots of reasons.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦For their children
❤️For their health
🌤️For a fresh start

This No Smoking Day, we’re supporting anyone ready to take that first step.

Find free NHS support on the Help Me Quit website: https://helpmequit.wales

Also, tune into GTFM at 11.30am to hear from one of our Help Me Quit advisers, Sion, on the support available to you.