Health board accused of misleading claims over recruitment as pressure mounts ahead of final decision

A FREEDOM of Information disclosure has raised serious questions over plans to close Meddygfa’r Sarn in Pontyates, with claims the health board failed to properly attempt to recruit permanent doctors before recommending its shutdown.

The row centres on Hywel Dda University Health Board, which is due to make a final decision on the surgery’s future later this month.

An FOI response reveals that while the board cited a “lack of recruitment interest” in its January report, there is limited evidence of any recent, targeted recruitment campaign specifically aimed at the Pontyates practice.

Instead, the board confirmed that salaried GP roles were advertised in 2020 across its wider portfolio of managed practices — rather than as a focused effort to fill posts at Meddygfa’r Sarn itself. Those vacancies did not result in successful appointments.

‘No real attempt’

Independent Senedd candidate Carl Peters-Bond, who is also a patient at the surgery, has strongly criticised the health board, accusing it of presenting a misleading picture to justify closure.

He said: “They cited a lack of recruitment interest as justification for closing this surgery — but they never actually ran a proper recruitment campaign for it.

“Sending out general adverts years ago is not the same as making a serious, targeted effort to keep a vital community service alive.”

He also raised concerns about the consultation process, claiming it focused on the impact of closure rather than asking whether closure should happen at all.

Fully reliant on locums

The FOI confirms that Meddygfa’r Sarn currently has no salaried GPs and is entirely dependent on locum doctors.

While the health board says this model is unsustainable in the long term, the same disclosure shows several other managed practices across the region also rely heavily on locum staff — some to a significant degree.

Cost data included in the response suggests Meddygfa’r Sarn is not the most expensive practice per patient within the health board’s area.

Alternative options unclear

Another key issue raised by campaigners is the apparent lack of explored alternatives.

The FOI response indicates that the health board does not hold information on alternative local solutions, including potential relocation or different service models within the Pontyates area.

Campaigners argue this suggests closure was considered before all options had been properly examined.

A 52-page independent report submitted as part of the consultation process states that dispersing patients to other surgeries should only be considered as a last resort, after full recruitment efforts and capacity assessments have been carried out.

Health board position

Hywel Dda University Health Board maintains that the surgery, which serves around 4,350 patients, has faced long-standing recruitment difficulties and increasing reliance on temporary staff.

It says a Vacant Practice Panel concluded that dispersing patients to neighbouring surgeries would provide a more sustainable long-term solution.

The board has also acknowledged that transport and access concerns are likely to be a major issue for patients if the closure goes ahead, with a full Equality Impact Assessment expected to be considered before a final decision.

Decision later this month

The future of Meddygfa’r Sarn will be decided at a meeting of Hywel Dda University Health Board on Wednesday (May 28) at Yr Egin in Carmarthen.

With local anger growing and new questions emerging from the FOI disclosure, pressure is mounting on board members to reconsider the proposal.

Campaigners say the case now hinges on a simple question: whether enough was done to save the surgery before moving to close it.

CAMPAIGNERS are preparing to take to the water in Pembrokeshire as anger continues to grow over sewage pollution affecting Welsh beaches, rivers and bathing waters.

A large banner placed on the seafront by Surfers Against Sewage calls on people to join a “paddle out” at Broad Haven on Saturday, May 16, at 1:30pm.

The demonstration is part of a wider national campaign by Surfers Against Sewage, which has organised paddle-out protests across the UK to demand tougher action from water companies, regulators and governments over sewage discharges into rivers and coastal waters.

Growing anger

The protest comes after repeated concerns about water quality around the Welsh coast.

The Herald has previously reported pollution alerts affecting beaches including Newport North, Broad Haven, Dale, West Angle, Barafundle, Manorbier, Tenby Castle Beach, Saundersfoot and Pembrey, with warnings issued after storm sewage discharges within the previous 48 hours.

The issue has also affected major events. In September last year, The Herald reported that a sewage warning was issued before the Ironman Wales swim in Tenby, with Surfers Against Sewage alerts in place for Castle Beach, South Beach and Penally after recent discharges in the area.

The swim went ahead, with around 2,700 competitors entering Carmarthen Bay.

Local concern has not been limited to beaches. Only this weekend, The Herald reported that Carmarthen coracle fishermen had raised alarm over suspected sewage pollution entering the River Towy, warning that a centuries-old fishing tradition could be under threat.

Public health fears

Campaigners say sewage pollution is not just an environmental issue, but a public health concern for swimmers, surfers, paddleboarders, anglers and families using beaches and rivers.

The Herald has previously reported that Surfers Against Sewage recorded 1,853 illness cases in 2024 linked to contaminated waters across the UK, with concern also raised about poor water quality at locations including Cardigan Bay, New Quay and the Cleddau estuary.

Political pressure

The issue has become increasingly political in Wales. Last month, The Herald reported calls for tougher action on water quality, including proposals for stronger duties on water companies to prevent sewage discharges into rivers, lakes and the sea.

Surfers Against Sewage says its protests are designed to show that coastal and river communities have had enough of pollution, poor accountability and what campaigners see as years of failure to protect bathing waters.

Organisers say people do not have to enter the water to take part, with supporters also encouraged to gather on land.

Photo caption:

Protest call: A Surfers Against Sewage banner on the Pembrokeshire coast advertising the May 16 paddle-out protest.

A LONG-SERVING Gwynedd councillor has been suspended by Plaid Cymru after comments linking migration, housing pressure and the Welsh language.

Cllr Gareth Roberts, who represents Bangor’s Dewi ward, made the remarks during a planning committee debate on an application for 25 homes in Chwilog, on the Llŷn Peninsula.

Councillor raised concerns

The committee voted to reject the scheme against officers’ advice after concerns were raised about its possible impact on community cohesion and the Welsh language.

During the meeting, Cllr Roberts said Bangor was “no longer a Welsh-speaking area” and claimed he had seen the city’s Welsh-speaking population decline.

He said: “Certainly, within the last five years, I’ve seen hundreds if not 1,000 more people coming here to live, migrants.”

He also referred to pressure on schools, saying he had been told there were 42 different languages being spoken at his former primary school.

Cllr Roberts argued that housing shortages in Bangor could push demand into surrounding Welsh-speaking communities, including Chwilog.

Party investigation

Plaid Cymru has confirmed that Cllr Roberts’ party membership has been temporarily suspended following a formal complaint.

A party spokesperson said the suspension was a “neutral action” while an investigation is carried out.

Cllr Roberts has also resigned from Plaid Cymru’s group on Cyngor Gwynedd and is now listed as an individual member.

Speaking to BBC Wales, he insisted he was not opposed to migration and said Bangor had always been multicultural.

He said his comments were about housing, integration and the need to help people learn Welsh, rather than criticism of those who had moved to the area.