‘Big blow’ as GP surgery set to be closed next year
A GP surgery in Cardiff with thousands of registered patients is set to close next year, it has been announced.
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said it has been notified that GP services at Saltmead Medical Centre, Grangetown, will end on February 25, 2022.
Patients have described the closure of the practice, based in Clare Road, as a “big blow” to the heavily-populated community.
A spokeswoman for the health board said: “After a great deal of thought and consideration the practice has taken the difficult decision to give notice to the health board to hand back their GMS contract.
“The health board appreciates this will cause anxiety with patients and the local community but we are working closely with other practices in the area to find a solution to maintain services for the patients of Saltmead Medical Centre.
“Our focus is to ensure services are provided closer to home and together with our stakeholders we will establish a way forward to ensure future provision of GP services to all existing patients.”
One current patient registered at Saltmead Medical Centre said: “It’s a big blow for the area. It was difficult enough to get an appointment there before the pandemic and now it’ll be even harder after everyone transfers to nearby GPs.
“There is another medical centre further down the road but I’ve seen queues outside there in the past and I can imagine that will only get worse now like so many others in the city.”
The health board added that patients will continue to receive healthcare at Saltmead Medical Centre up to and including February 25 so there is no need for patients to do anything at this time.
“In the meantime we will keep the local community updated with details of future provision as we work through a solution,” the spokeswoman added.
“The health board would like to thank the community for their patience during this time and can reassure patients that we are committed to resolving this to meet the health care needs of the local population.”
Earlier this month it was confirmed that GP services at Albert Road Surgery in Penarth will end in March 2022. It came following the notification that the landlord had served notice on the building.
In a joint statement Cardiff and Vale UHB and Vale of Glamorgan Council said: “We are committed to working together to find short and longer-term solutions for patients of Albert Road Surgery in Penarth.
“The two organisations have committed to explore options to maintain GP services for the local community from April 2022.
“The UHB’s focus of bringing care closer to home and staying within the local community is part of the longerterm primary care ambitions for a Health and Wellbeing Hub at Cogan in Penarth.”
They added: “The UHB and the local authority are supportive in principle of the Cogan Wellbeing Hub and the UHB is progressing the programme of work required to finalise a business case to support this.
“However it is important to reiterate this is a medium-term option and will require further discussion with the Vale of Glamorgan Council as well as the necessary planning and approval processes and ongoing engagement with key stakeholders and the community as the plans progress.
“Patients will continue to access primary care services at Albert Road Surgery until March 18, 2022. In the meantime we will keep the local community updated with details of future provision of health care as we work through a sustainable solution. We would like to reiterate that no patients in this area will lose access to GP services.”