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The closure of Deri Medical Centre will help to “consolidate services”, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board has said. 

The branch surgery closed on October 20 – the second GP surgery closure in Caerphilly County Borough in 2023 after Bedwas Surgery shut on May 8.

Bedwas Surgery was a branch of Aber Medical Centre, while Deri Medical Centre was a branch surgery of Meddygfa Cwm Rhymni.

A spokesperson for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABHUB) said: “By closing Deri, the practice is able to consolidate services in fewer sites, enabling long-term sustainability and ongoing delivery of services. 

“Patients will remain registered with Meddygfa Cwm Rhymni unless they choose to register elsewhere, and any housebound patients will be able to request a home visit if needed. There are a number of community transport services operating in the area which can be utilised where required.”

Deri Medical Centre closed after ABUHB supported an application from Meddygfa Cwm Rhymni to shut the branch in early 2023.

An eight-week engagement period followed and then 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”.

The ABUHB spokesperson continued: “When the health board receives a General Medical Service (GMS) contract resignation, a vacant practice panel meets to consider all the options available to ensure patients continue to have access to a GP practice. This panel includes representation from Gwent Local Medical Committee and Llais Cymru.”

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. 

‘Sufficient capacity’ 

Meddygfa Cwm Rhymni has also taken over the contract from Rhymney’s Lawn Medical Practice, adding 5,500 patients to the register. 

Concerns have been raised that the changes will impact patients’ ability to get an appointment. 

Independent councillor Eddy Blanche, who represents Fochriw and Pentwyn on Darran Valley Community Council, 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.” 

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

A spokesperson for ABUHB added: “Members of the panel considered all options available to secure a new contractor to deliver care to patients registered with the Lawn Medical Practice.

“Following a robust recruitment process, the panel’s recommendation was to award the management and delivery of general medical services to Dr Neil James and partners of Meddygfa Cwm Rhymni Practice as they provided assurance that they have sufficient capacity to deliver safe and effective care to the patients of the Lawn Medical Practice. 

“The practice has a large team of GPs and clinical workforce and is also a training practice with successful recruitment and retention.”