Surgery at risk of closure after health board receives application to shut premises

Deri Medical Centre is at risk of shutting down after an application was made to the health board to close the premises. 

The application was sent to the Aneurin Bevan Health Board by the main practice, Meddygfa Cwm Rhymni. 

The surgery in Deri, which is located on Riverside Walk, has been a branch site since the partnership was formed in 2007. There is another branch site in New Tredegar. 

As a branch surgery, patients are registered with the main practice where there are 12,800 registered patients, according to Aneurin Bevan University Health Board.

In a statement provided to Caerphilly Observer, a spokesperson for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board said: “The health board has written to all patients who routinely access services from Meddygfa Cwm Rhymi to inform them of the Practice’s request to close their branch surgery premises in Deri, Bargoed and to ask for their views.

“As part of an eight-week engagement period, the health board, in conjunction with Llais (previously Aneurin Bevan Community Health Council) and Gwent Local Medical Committee, will form a Branch Surgery Closure Panel to discuss this application and take patient views into account before any decision is made.

“If the request to close the Deri branch surgery is supported, the affected patients will then need to access the GP services provided at either the main site in Rhymney or the branch surgery in New Tredegar; both of which would remain open. Alternatively, eligible patients can choose to register with an alternate neighbouring practice, providing they reside within the boundary of that practice.

“Patients will be contacted following the outcome of the Branch Surgery Closure Panel.”

‘It’s going to be terrible’ – councillors raise concerns

Community councillors raised their concerns about the closure of Deri Medical Centre at a recent meeting of Darran Valley Community Council.

The community council agreed to write a letter to the Health Board to highlight its concerns.

Expressing his concern, Cllr David Nicholas, who represents Deri and Groesfaen, has used the surgery and there are “good things” coming out of it. 

The need to travel to access care of any kind was a worry for constituents as Cllr Nicholas said: “It’s a very elderly village.”

Should the surgery close, patients will need to access health care from Rhymney or New Tredegar, and this may cause issues due to a lack of infrastructure. 

“Our transport links are non-existent,” added Cllr Nicholas. 

Cllr Robert Chapman, who represents Fochriw and Pentwyn, and is also a county councillor, added that the closure and the subsequent need to travel would be “terrible” for people in the area.

‘Loaded’ questionnaire for residents to submit views

Patients can submit their views about the closure by completing a questionnaire. 

This is available online, or as a paper form by request, and can be filled out by patients over 16 during the eight-week engagement period.

There has been some criticism from residents about the form, according to Cllr Chapman, speaking at the April 5 meeting, who said: “These questions are loaded.”

The questions listed include which branch practice they usually attend, how often in the last 12 months they have visited, how they travel to that branch and if they would have any difficulty travelling to alternative branches. There is also a chance for additional comments. 

Despite residents’ concerns, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board confirmed the survey is a standard questionnaire as agreed with Llais (CHC).

Issues had been raised, in particular, with patients having to declare how many times they used the surgery during a certain time period. 

The use of the surgery was also something raised by Cllr Nicholas, who felt that there had been a decline in services over time, which meant that representation of need could not be properly assessed.

“They’ve closed it by stealth,” said Cllr Nicholas, “[patients] have not used it because the services have not been there for them to use.”

Patients are able to request a paper form or fill out the form online here and should complete it by May 22.

There is also doubt over whether a GP surgery in Rhymney will continue after its doctors handed back their contracts.

Dr Evans and Dr Stewart have announced they will resign from Lawn Medical Practice with effect from August 31.