Doctor surgeries in Lansbury Park and Penyrheol will be closing at the end of next month.

Dr Fakande, who runs the surgeries, has decided to retire and resign from the contract for the surgeries, which look after 3,962 registered patients.

Efforts by health bosses to attract another doctor to take over the practice have failed after it was advertised nationally.

The announcement coincides with Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB) agreeing to the closure of Gilfach Surgery.

At a meeting attended by members of the Gwent Local Medical Committee and Aneurin Bevan Community Health Council on Wednesday, February 26, it was decided that patients at the surgeries would be referred to other surgeries from May 1.

Dr Fakande will remain in charge of the surgeries until April 30.

The health board said it would be working with nearby surgeries to support the influx of patients referred from Lansbury Park and Penyrheol.

Cllr Elaine Forehead, who represents the St James ward where Lansbury Park surgery is, said: “The community has worked hard to remove the label of the highest deprivation in Wales but this will obviously have a detrimental effect as health was a factor of the categorisation.

“While I appreciate the resident doctor’s wish to retire, there is still a great need for services.

“I will be calling on the health board to work in collaboration to provide fit for purpose facilities for the community.

“This closure will impact surrounding surgeries that are already under pressure and with a shortage of GPs I am concerned we will not be able to support the most vulnerable.” 

Penyrheol ward councillor Lindsay Whittle told Caerphilly Observer he was “very cross” with the news.

Cllr Whittle said: “We campaigned for many years to get a surgery in Penyrheol. It’s very disappointing.

“The two estates are, in parts, some of the poorest areas. It’s a sad day for both of these estates.

“We’ve been pressuring the health board and the Welsh Labour government to keep these open.”

Cllr Whittle also highlighted the increased pressure neighbouring surgeries would be put under as a result of the closures.

Caerphilly AM Hefin David said: “We have not got the outcome we were hoping for.

“I will continue to work closely with residents and the health board, to ensure patients can access the most effective service possible at their new surgeries and any resident who wants help or advice is welcome to contact me.”

Dr David added: “The number of GPs in training in Wales is at its highest and keeps growing year on year. The Welsh Government are even increasing the number of GP training places in Wales due to high demand. The problem we have at the moment is waiting for those individuals to finish the training and come through as qualified GPs, ready to go in to work.”

South Wales East AM Delyth Jewell said: “This is terrible news for local residents, many of whom have been patients at the surgeries for many years, who will now have to travel further to access GP services.

“It’s simply unacceptable that frontline health services are being degraded in areas such as ours at a time when demand is increasing all the time, so I’ll be writing to the health board to ask how they intend to ensure that patients at these surgeries will continue to be able to see a GP in a timely manner.”

Ms Jewell criticised Welsh Government for what she described as an “appalling failure in terms of workforce planning”.

A spokesman for ABUHB said: “After considering the size of the practice, where patients live, current workforce and the distance of other local practices in the area, it was agreed that patients would be offered places at other GP practices in the surrounding area.

“We appreciate that this news may be unsettling for patients, however, the health board will make all the necessary arrangements to ensure that each patient is automatically transferred to a GP practice local to where they reside from May 1.

“We recognise that the surrounding GP practices will require support to accommodate additional patients. Therefore, the health board will be working with these practices so that all patients have access to safe, effective care.”

The spokesman added: “Patients will receive a letter containing information regarding the future of their care, and they will be given the opportunity to attend a number of drop-in sessions to ask questions or discuss any concerns they may have.

“We will continue to keep patients and their local elected representatives fully informed as these changes progress.”