Laugharne Branch Surgery - the future of services for registered patients

Hywel Dda University Health Board (HDdUHB) has received an application from the Coach and Horses GP Surgery in St. Clears, to close their Laugharne Branch Surgery in Carmarthenshire.

The main reasons for the application are:

• The Practice has faced major problems in sustaining its core workforce and has been unable to provide GP sessions at the Laugharne Branch Surgery since April 2020.
• In order to protect the provision of general medical services, the GP Partners of the Coach and Horses Surgery in St.Clears have made the difficult decision to apply to close the Laugharne Branch Surgery. This will allow them to centralise their staff and services, which will in turn support the future sustainability of the GP Practice.
• There are challenges across the UK in the recruitment and retention of general medical practitioners (GPs).

Tracey Huggins, Head of General Medical Services at Hywel Dda University Health Board, explains the process: “Once an application to close a branch surgery is received, the Health Board starts its Branch Practice Review Process, which is managed independently of the Coach and Horses GP Practice.

“The process that sets out how the Health Board will respond to receiving and reviewing the application to close. It also sets out how we will share information with patients and wider stakeholders in order to seek their views, which includes engaging with Llais, the statutory body in Wales that represents the interest of patients and the public.

“Once all of these processes are completed, we enter a period of conscientious consideration of the feedback that we have received. This is all done independently of the Practice, although we keep them informed and include their representative in our meetings.

“Finally, all of the information gathered is taken into account when the Board meets in public to consider a final decision on the application.”

This period of engagement will take place from 1 November to 8 December 2023. Patients and members of the wider community can have their say by:

• Attending a drop-in event on Tuesday 28 November 2023, 2pm to 7pm at Laugharne Memorial Hall, Clifton Street, Laugharne SA33 4QG
• By questionnaire: collection boxes for questionnaires at Laugharne Surgery and at Coach and Horses Surgery. Patients can also return by posting to FREEPOST HYWEL DDA HEALTH BOARD
• By telephone: 0300 303 8322 and select option 5 for other services.
• By email: ask.hdd@wales.nhs.uk
• In writing: comments to be addressed to Tracey Huggins, Head of GMS Primary Care Team, Felinfoel Community Resource Centre, Felinfoel, Llanelli, SA14 8BE.
• Online: responding to a questionnaire hosted on the Health Boards Have Your Say / Dweud eich Dweud sites Have your Say Hywel Dda UHB (wales.nhs.uk) / Dweud eich Dweud BIP Hywel Dda (cymru.nhs.uk)
• Feedback direct to Llais, Suite 5, 1^st Floor, Ty Myrddin, Old Station Road, Carmarthen SA31 1LP.