Busy GP surgeries may be in danger of closure
TWO GP surgeries serving close to 4,000 patients are at risk of closure after their sole GP announced retirement.
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board has confirmed that Dr Fakande, the sole GP at Lansbury and Penyrheol (Troed y Bryn) surgeries in Caerphilly, will resign from his General Medical Services contract at the end of April.
A spokesman said the health board will now advertise nationally to look for a replacement GP to take over the contract.
It is understood the two practices combined have a total of 3,962 registered patients, who are being notified of the situation by post.
The health board spokesman said: “Patients of Lansbury Surgery, Caerphilly, are being informed that Dr Fakande will resign from his General Medical Services contract with effect from April 30, 2020.
“As a single-handed GP, Dr Fakande is required to provide a three-month notice period.
“The health board will ensure that all patients currently registered with Lansbury Surgery will have access to a GP practice from May 1, 2020, and Dr Fakande will continue to deliver general medical services to patients as normal until the contract ends on April 30, 2020.
“The health board’s Vacant Practice Panel met on Friday, January 24, 2020 to discuss the options available.
“It was agreed that the practice would be advertised nationally, with the aim of recruiting a new GP contractor to continue providing GP services to the patients registered with Lansbury Surgery.”
Assembly Member for Caerphilly, Hefin David, said he has been in talks with the health board following the doctor’s resignation.
Commenting on the news of the post being advertised nationally, he said: “This is positive news for residents who are patients at the Lansbury and Troed y Bryn surgeries. The health board have acknowledged the importance of the surgeries within those communities.
“I am fully supportive of the measures that are being taken to ensure the surgeries continue to run, now and in the future. I will be contacting the health board in the next few weeks as recruitment progresses.”
Drop-in sessions are set to be held at Lansbury Surgery so patients can discuss any concerns they have with a health board representative.
The spokesman for the health board added: “Patients of the surgery do not need to do anything at this point in time.
“If anyone has concerns in the meantime, please contact Lansbury Surgery on 02920 886006 or a member of the Primary Care Team on 01495 241255.”
Plaid Cymru AM Delyth Jewell said she has written to Aneurin Bevan University Health Board chief executive Judith Paget to seek assurances about the sustainability of Lansbury Park and Penyrheol surgeries.
She said: “Both these practices are crucial bedrocks of their local communities, providing a range of essential services for thousands of nearby homes and providing business for local chemists. One suggestion that I was told that was being considered, was that a thousand patients from these surgeries would be transferred to the Court House surgery.
“However this surgery, like all nearby surgeries in the area, is already full up and such an option would not be sustainable or provide good service to the patients both at the surgeries under threat and to the nearby surgeries.”
The British Medical Association (BMA) has identified that up to 32 surgeries could be at risk across the whole of the health board area.
Ms Jewell said she has also contacted Health Minister Vaughan Gething to bring the issue to his attention, and has asked for an explanation about the reasons behind the failure in terms of long-term workforce planning.
She added: “I hope that by raising my constituents’ concerns about the future of these surgeries directly with the health board that swift action can be taken to ensure their future sustainability, so that people can continue to access these services that are so important to them.
“I’m concerned about the fact that the BMA has identified risks for 32 surgeries across the whole health board area, which is why I’ve asked the Health Minister for reassurance that action is being taken to plan for the future workforce to avoid any potential closures.”