Councillors from Croesyceiliog & Llanyrafon Community Council want answers to how the consultation around the closure of North Road surgery was handled.
The item was discussed at their meeting on Monday 26 September in Woodland Road Sports & Social Centre. North Road Surgery is run by Trosnant Lodge Medical Practice in Pontypool who told the health board they wanted to close because of “concerns around its future viability.” Trosnant Lodge’s website describes the North Road site as a ‘branch surgery’ with opening hours of 8am until 1pm Monday to Friday.
Cllr Sean O’Dobhain, Croesyceiliog North, said: “We fed back to the consultation” and added he “felt it was poor”.
Cllr Vicki Williams, Croesyceiliog North, said: “I think it’s disappointing the way it’s been handled. You fill in a form online with your feelings. There was no feedback on that. How an elderly person can compete those I don’t know.”
Cllr Nigel Davies, Croesyceiliog North, said he filled in a paper form.
Cllr Mark Price, Croesyceiliog South, suggested the clerk sends a letter to Aneurin Bevan University Health Board to get answers to questions including “how many people have been displaced?” and “how many people replied to the consultation?”
He added: “We can’t stop the closure but we need to know the extent of the problem. They owe us that much.”
Cllr Stewart Matthews, Croesyceiliog North, said they should also write to the Welsh Government’s Minister for Health and Social Services and the Member of the Senedd.
A spokesman for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board told Cwmbran Life: “When Trosnant Lodge Medical Practice submitted a request to close their branch surgery in April 2022 due to concerns around its future viability, the Health Board consulted all of the Surgery’s patients (over the age of 16) as part of an 8-week patient engagement period.
“Patient responses- of which there were 1,305 (21.9%)- were then considered by a Branch Surgery Closure Panel, along with feedback from local councillors; AM/ MPs; local GP Practices and Pharmacies; the Local Medical Committee; Community Health Council and Neighbourhood Care Networks.
“In this instance, the panel agreed to support the branch closure to ensure the on-going sustainability of the main practice. North Road Surgery will therefore close on Friday 30 September 2022 and all patients affected can continue to access services from the main practice, Trosnant Lodge.
“The Health Board has already written to patients registered with the Practice to advise them of the Branch closure and to set out future arrangements.”
🙏 Do you enjoy reading Cwmbran Life?
If you enjoy Cwmbran Life, please consider supporting the site so I can keep writing and sharing the stories you like to read. Every story, photo or video has taken time to produce and share with you. News isn’t free. There are several ways you can help me spend more time out and about in the community:
🤝 Become a Facebook Fan subscriber.
☕️ Buying Me a Coffee – Make a donation or become a subscriber.
💻 Businesses can advertise on site’s business directory or take out some sponsored social media posts. Email [email protected] and we can chat.
💸 Send a donation via PayPal.