ACCESS to GP services at Argyle Medical Group must become a top priority for the next Senedd, Samuel Kurtz MS has said, as concern continues to grow over pressures facing one of the largest surgeries in Wales.

The Pembroke Dock-based practice serves more than 22,000 patients with just nine GPs, a figure which has repeatedly been highlighted as showing the scale of pressure facing primary care in south Pembrokeshire.

Mr Kurtz said he had spent the past year engaging with patients, healthcare professionals and local residents through community pop-up advice surgeries, research and meetings with representatives from the Royal College of General Practitioners.

Residents, he said, had repeatedly raised concerns about long waits for appointments, limited availability and the difficulty of getting through to the surgery.

He said: “Access to a GP is one of the most basic services people rely on, yet far too many residents are struggling to be seen when they need care.

“Through my community advice surgeries and discussions with patients and Argyle Medical Group staff, I’ve heard first-hand just how difficult it has become to access care and the pressures the Argyle team is under. When a single surgery is responsible for more than 22,000 patients with just nine GPs, it’s clear the system is under enormous strain.”

The issue is not a new one.

Argyle Medical Group has faced pressure for years, with recruitment and retention problems in general practice long affecting services in the area. Concerns about access to appointments and the burden on staff have been raised repeatedly, both locally and nationally, as demand for primary care continues to rise.

The surgery has previously been at the centre of controversy over service changes, with patients in south Pembrokeshire voicing fears about access being stretched even further. The continuing pressure at Argyle reflects wider problems across Wales, where GP services have been struggling with rising patient demand, workforce shortages and increasing pressure on frontline teams.

Mr Kurtz said he had challenged both Hywel Dda University Health Board and the Welsh Government over the issue and would continue to press for action.

He said: “We need fair funding for GP services and urgent action to recruit more doctors and healthcare professionals into our community. Without that, pressures will only continue to grow.

“Staff are doing their absolute best, but they are being stretched too far. We need a clear plan to improve access, whether that means increasing staffing levels, improving appointment systems, and making better use of technology.”

With the Senedd election approaching in May, healthcare is expected to be one of the major battlegrounds across Wales, with GP access, hospital waiting lists and local NHS services likely to feature heavily in the campaign.

Mr Kurtz said access to GP services at Argyle and across the wider area would be one of his top priorities if elected to the next Senedd.

He is calling for fairer funding for GP services, urgent action to recruit and retain more GPs and healthcare staff, a clear plan to improve appointment availability, greater support for frontline teams and stronger local accountability.

He added: “Our community deserves better. People should not have to wait weeks to speak to a GP or struggle endlessly to get through on the phone. I will continue to hold decision-makers to account and fight for the fair funding and recruitment our area needs.”

“If elected, I will make improving access to GP services at Argyle and across the wider area one of my top priorities in the Senedd.”

GARDENERS and families are being invited to Templeton Village Green on Saturday, May 9, for the village’s annual plant sale.

With spring finally beginning to show itself, organisers say the long-running event is the perfect chance for local people to get their gardens ready for the months ahead.

After a wet and difficult winter, many will be looking forward to making the most of their outdoor spaces this summer. The Templeton plant sale, which has been running for well over 20 years, remains as popular as ever and promises a wide range of plants, gardening items and expert advice.

As well as browsing the stalls, visitors will be able to speak to knowledgeable stallholders for tips and guidance on what to grow and how best to care for it.

Templeton Community Council is organising the event this year and says there are still a couple of spaces left for stallholders.

Refreshments will also be available on the day, making it a pleasant outing for the whole family. The Village Green is located just across the road from the play park, which has recently been improved with new equipment, including a rotating cone climber for children to enjoy.

The plant sale will run from 10:00am until 2:00pm.

Organisers said they are looking forward to welcoming residents and visitors alike to what has become a much-loved annual community event.

A DRIVER has denied dangerous driving following a prosecution brought by Dyfed-Powys Police over an alleged manoeuvre on a major road through rural Wales.

Anthony Rees, 60, of Tabor Road, Maesycwmmer, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Apr 1) charged with dangerous driving and failing to comply with solid white line road markings.

The court heard the case relates to an incident on the A470 near Brecon on October 28, 2025, involving a Scania heavy tractor artic.

Prosecutors allege Rees began overtaking while on broken white lines, continued past warning signs for bends ahead, and then carried on overtaking around a right-hand bend, over solid white lines, before moving back onto his own side of the road shortly before a blind left-hand bend.

Rees pleaded not guilty to both charges.

Magistrates adjourned the matter for a further case management hearing at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (Apr 22).

A trial is due to take place at the same court on Monday (Apr 27).

One small point: if you want it strictly accurate, Brecon is in Powys, not Carmarthenshire. So I would not put Carmarthenshire in the headline unless you want a broader court-location angle such as: