Fears that surgery might not reopen following coronavirus lockdown

Villagers fear their GP surgery may not reopen after it was closed at the start of the coronavirus lockdown.

Senghenydd Health Centre, which has 2,929 patients, closed its doors in March this year. It is a branch surgery of the larger Nantgarw Road Medical Centre in Caerphilly.

The Aneurin Bevan University Health Board has said the surgery will reopen in October – although it is unclear exactly what is preventing it from opening when other practices are operating.

It is understood Nantgarw Road Medical Centre had asked the health board for more time to reopen.

Aber Valley councillor John Roberts has organised a petition calling for the the surgery to reopen and said patients are having to make their way to the main practice for appointments.

He said: “The practice in Abertridwr has been kept open during lockdown and there is an underlying concern in Senghenydd that the surgery could close.

“Safety is important – we get that. But when they are given a date and apply for an extension it is a major concern.

“For some people, it might mean having to get two buses to Nantgarw Road Medical Centre and there are less buses at the moment.”

A spokesman for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board said: “The health board is expecting Senghenydd Health Centre to work towards resuming services in full by October 1, 2020, in line with our General Medical Services recovery plans relating to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The health centre is currently conducting work place risk assessments to support staff and are making the necessary amendments to their premises, to ensure the building is safe and both staff and patients are able to adhere to social distancing measures when it reopens.”

Over the last few years there have been a spate of GP surgery closures – mainly down to staffing issues.

Surgeries in Lansbury Park and Penyrheol closed earlier this year after the GP who ran them decided to retire and no replacement could be found to take them over.

Almost 4,000 patients registered at the surgeries were affected and had to be transferred to other practices.