Dydd Mercher Wednesday Awst 22 August
A LAST-minute replacement for a retiring doctor has staved off a GP appointment crisis amid warnings of a dire shortage in the area.
In June, Treflan Surgery in Pwllheli issued its 7,500 patients with letters telling them of the impending retirement of one of it’s senior partners, Dr Robyns-Owen, at the end of this month.
The letter warned that, due to the national shortage of GPs in North West Wales, they were unable to recruit another doctor.
This left the surgery with no option but to limit pre-bookable appointments and home visits in order for the three remaining doctors to concentrate their efforts on coping with the more urgent needs of patients.
Since the letter was issued, the surgery have been able to recruit a new doctor who will be joining the practice on September 1 – but management and the Health Board are still warning patients that there remains “a severe shortage of doctors” in the area.
Practice Manager, Tracey Banks said: “Since writing the letter we have successfully managed to recruit a new Partner.
“Dr Remi Domagala will be joining the practice partnership on September 1, 2018. This is excellent for the practice and its 7500 patients and will allow us to go back to offering more GP appointments – routine and same day.
“There remains, however, a severe shortage of doctors within the Dwyfor area and we are looking to the local health board to introduce services that will help sustain General Practice in the area.”
In February the practice took the decision to temporarily turn away new patients in an attempt to avoid having to surrender their general medical contracts to Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board (BCUHB).
Mrs Banks added that the “good news” regarding their new recruit has allowed them to keep the independent contractor status.
In September last year, the Health Board took over the running of Criccieth surgery after the doctor terminated the contract to provide GP services.
BCUHB also took over the running of the Pen-Y-Maes Health Centre in Summerhill, Wrexham, in the same month.
Mark Walker, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s Deputy Medical Director, said: “We’d like to thank Dr Robyns-Owen for his hard work and dedication to Treflan Surgery and wish him all the best for his retirement.
“The recruitment of GPs remains a challenge for much of the UK because of a national shortage, but the sustainability of high-quality primary care services is a priority for our Board. We commend the approach by Treflan Surgery, broadening the range of clinicians available.”