Support quality, independent, local journalism…that matters

From just £1 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts. Become a member today

Caerphilly County Borough saw its second GP surgery shut this year after Deri Medical Centre closed its doors for good in October.

Deri Medical Centre, which is located on Riverside Walk, closed on October 20 after Aneurin Bevan University Health Board supported an application from the main practice – Meddygfa Cwm Rhymni – to shut the branch in early 2023.

Following an eight-week engagement period, a vacant practice panel opted to close the site – a decision that was formalised at ABUHB’s public board meeting on July 19.

Speaking at the public board meeting, ABUHB’s chief operating officer, Leanne Watkins, said the closure was supported “in the interest of sustainability”.

As a branch surgery, patients are registered with the main practice – Meddygfa Cwm Rhymni, which has remaining sites in New Tredegar and Rhymney.

Of those 12,800 registered patients, 777 patients accessed services at the Deri branch, according to a supporting document provided at the board meeting.

These patients will now need to permanently use other sites in New Tredegar or Rhymney.

Staff who work at the Deri branch will also relocate to either the New Tredegar branch or the main practice in Rhymney. 

This is the second branch surgery in Caerphilly County Borough to close in 2023 after Bedwas Surgery shut on May 8. This surgery was a branch of Aber Medical Centre.

A spokesperson for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board said: “Deri Branch Surgery is a branch of Meddygfa Cwm Rhymni Practice and therefore patients who used to access services at the Deri site will remain registered at Meddygfa Cwm Rhymni Practice and will be able to continue to access general medical services from the main site in Rhymney and/or the branch site in New Tredegar.

“Patients have the option of registering with an alternative practice if they wish to do so, providing they reside within the boundary of that practice.

“We need more surgeries”

Cllr David Nicholas, who represents Deri and Groesfaen on Darran Valley Community Council, previously told Caerphilly Observer the closure would negatively impact constituents.

Cllr Nicholas said the need to travel to access care of any kind was a worry and continued: “It’s a very elderly village.

“Our transport links are non-existent.”

Independent councillor Eddy Blanche, who represents Fochriw and Pentwyn on Darran Valley Community Council, also slammed the decision and said: “We need more surgeries – we don’t need fewer…keep it open and invest in it.”

He continued: “The powers that be live in…high-density population areas and don’t understand living in rural communities.” 

Cllr Blanche lives in Fochriw and is a patient at Meddygfa Cwm Rhymni. He uses the Rhymney premises for treatment. 

Cllr Blanche said: “The current surgeries in the area are struggling to cope with the current number of patients without adding more patients to that.”

He continued: “Trying to get appointments is difficult.” 

This could now be made worse as an additional 5,500 patients were added to Meddygfa Cwm Rhymni’s current register of patients after the practice took on the contract from Rhymney’s Lawn Medical Practice.

Though staff who worked at Deri and Lawn Medical Practice will be transferred over, concerns have been raised over a lack of additional GPs. 

Caerphilly Observer asked ABUHB if more GPs will be taken on. A spokesperson responded: “The clinical staff from the Deri branch site will transfer to the remaining sites.

“The practice feels that having one less site may also help to attract new GPs or other clinical staff to work at Meddygfa Cwm Rhymni Practice.”

They continued: “Providing care from one less site will support the practice to have a greater range of clinical expertise available under the same roof, enhancing patient care and safety and providing better continuity of care for patients.”