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Bedwas Health Centre could become the latest GP surgery in Caerphilly County Borough to close its doors – but patients have not been told why.
The surgery, on East Avenue, is a branch of Aber Medical Centre based in Abertridwr – which also runs Meddygfa Tridwr in the same village and a branch based in Llanbradach.
How does the GP model work?
GPs are independent contractors to the NHS to provide primary care. Under this model, GPs are self-employed and have responsibility for running the surgery and providing care under the General Medical Services contract.
Throughout Wales, there are widespread issues regarding the recruitment and retention of doctors willing to do this.
Aber Medical Centre applied to Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB) to close the branch. Health bosses have so far not disclosed why – despite Caerphilly Observer asking.
ABUHB has written to all Aber Medical Centre patients about the closure and has started an eight-week “engagement period”.
The health board is working with Aneurin Bevan Community Health Council and Gwent Local Medical Committee to form a “branch surgery closure panel” to discuss the application.
A spokesman for ABHUB said: “If the request to close the Bedwas branch surgery is supported, the affected patients will then need to access the GP services provided at either the main Aber Medical Centre site in Abertridwr and/or the branch surgery in Llanbradach – both of which would remain open.
“Alternatively, eligible patients can choose to register with an alternate neighbouring practice.
“Patients registered at Bedwas Health Centre will be contacted following the outcome of the Branch Surgery Closure Panel.”
A decision is set to be made by March 31.
Recent surgery closures
In 2020, GP surgeries in both Penyrheol and Lansbury Park were closed after the retirement of Dr Fakande, who ran the surgeries.
ABUHB was unable to find anyone to replace Dr Fakande, meaning nearly 4,000 patients had to be relocated to other surgeries.
That same year saw the closure of Gilfach Surgery, which was a branch of the Gelligaer Practice, which itself is now facing an uncertain future after two of its doctors decided to hand back their General Medical Services contract.
Dr Angharad Bevan and Dr Sara Wilson will resign their Gelligaer Surgery practice on April 30, 2023 and patients will receive care until then.
The current Gelligaer Surgery building was only opened in 2012 at a cost of £1.25m.
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“Grave concern”
Plaid Cymru group leader Cllr Lindsay Whittle expressed “grave concern” at the way primary care services in the borough are “deteriorating”.
Penyrheol councillor Whittle, himself a patient at Aber Medical Centre, said: “If this closure goes ahead it will be the fourth in the Caerphilly constituency in recent times, following the shutting of Penyrheol, Lansbury Park and Gilfach.
“When my surgery in Penyrheol closed my old doctor told me that the 4,000 plus patients he looked after single-handedly would be distributed to other surgeries – but that puts more pressure on our GPs and obviously leads to longer waits to see a doctor.”
He continued: “I know from experience that although the Aber Medical Centre has two surgeries in the valley, I’ve been asked on the odd occasion to go to Bedwas for tests. That obviously won’t happen in the future, so I wonder where we are.”
Cllr Whittle also said he had raised his concerns with Plaid Cymru Senedd Member Delyth Jewell, who represents the South Wales East region.
‘Quietest’ branch
Responding to an email from Plaid Cymru councillor Greg Ead, the health board said Bedwas surgery was the quietest branch of Aber Medical Centre’ – and said its closure would see services relocated to its sites in Abertridwr.
Staff working at Bedwas would be relocated to other sites, if the application to close is approved.
In its email to Cllr Ead, ABUHB said: “The practice has requested a boundary change to withdraw from accepting new patients residing in Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen areas.
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