A NEW plan for GP services for patients in and around Neyland has been agreed by Hywel Dda University Health Board and will be implemented this autumn.

Patients in the Neyland area will be aware that the application by Argyle Medical Group to close St. Clement’s Surgery this autumn was approved by the Health Board in April.

Work has been underway in recent months with local stakeholders to explore an alternative proposal to provide these vital services to patients affected by the planned closure.

Transport difficulties and additional pressure on appointments at Argyle Surgery are amongst the concerns of patients and local community representatives. Over recent months the Partners at Neyland and Johnston Surgery have been in negotiation with the Health Board regarding the Partners’ proposal to take on the care of those Argyle Surgery patients living in and around Neyland.

An agreement has been reached which retains GP services in Neyland for all patients, and protects the longer-term provision of these important services for the Neyland area.

From November 1, all patients registered with Argyle Surgery who live in the Neyland area will be able to have their registration automatically transferred from Argyle Medical Group to Neyland and Johnston Surgery, and have their care delivered locally by the team led by Dr Phillips and Dr Tobin.

To manage the increase in patient numbers, Neyland and Johnston Surgery will be moving their base in Neyland from the Health Centre at Charles Street to St. Clement’s Surgery. The Practice will continue to operate Johnston Surgery as normal.

The Health Board will continue to work with the Practice to plan for a longer-term solution for their premises to meet the needs of the growing Practice. In addition to moving into St. Clement’s Surgery, Neyland and Johnston Surgery will also be recruiting additional staff to their team to manage the increase in numbers.

Argyle Medical Group will continue to operate services from St. Clement’s Surgery until the handover of the building to the Partners of Neyland & Johnston Surgery. Patients should continue to access services there until the transition on November 1.

Those patients registered with Argyle Medical Group who would prefer to remain registered with the Argyle Medical group will be able to do so via an opt-out system to protect patient choice. Patients who choose to opt-out and remain with Argyle Medical Group will need to travel to Argyle Surgery in Pembroke Dock or St. Oswald’s Surgery in Pembroke.

The Health Board will be writing shortly to all affected patients to outline the changes and provide patients with the means to opt-out and remain registered with Argyle Medical Group if they so choose.

Patients who are happy to transfer to Neyland and Johnston Surgery and receive their care at St. Clement’s Surgery in Neyland or in Johnston, need do nothing and will automatically transfer from November 1.

Patients do not need to do anything until they receive letters advising them of the changes and how they can opt to remain with Argyle Medical Group if that is their preference.

Jill Paterson, Director of Primary Care for Hywel Dda University Health Board said: “The Health Board has listened to the concerns of patients, Neyland Town Council, the Community Health Council and other stakeholders and is pleased to announce this plan for General Medical Services in Neyland and the surrounding area. We have welcomed the co-operation and engagement of all stakeholders in working towards this solution.”

Cllr Paul Miller welcomed the announcement: “I very much welcome the news from Hywel Dda that patients in Neyland will continue to be able to see a Doctor, in the town of Neyland.

“There’s been a lot of hard work gone on behind the scenes to make this possible and I’m grateful to the Health Board and to Neyland and Johnston Surgery for their efforts.

“That said, we need to continue the work together to ensure the transition is smooth, to ensure that access to appointments for patients in Neyland gets better and not worse under the new arrangements and ultimately to design a long-term, sustainable model for the delivery of GP Services for the people of Neyland.

“I look forward to continuing work with the Health Board to achieve this.”

Stephen Crabb MP told The Herald: ““This is a very positive move and the Health Board deserve credit for working out a common sense solution for St Clements surgery.  The proposed closure was the number one issue of concern to residents at my public meeting in Neyland recently, and I am pleased that the message that I and the others have delivered to the Health Board has got through.  However, this does not resolve the underlying problem of GP recruitment and this is a matter that the Welsh Government in Cardiff needs to get a grip on urgently.”