A GP surgery in Carmarthenshire with more than 4,000 registered patients, which has faced the threat of closure due to “significant staffing challenges”, could be saved under a new merger plan.
Meddygfa’r Sarn, located on Heol Y Meinciau in the village of Pontyates, was recommended for closure in 2025 after Hywel Dda University Health Board admitted the practice “faced ongoing and significant staffing challenges” and had no permanently employed GPs.
Community opposition halts closure plans
The local community described the closure plans as “shocking”, prompting health bosses to pause the shutdown and ask the public for their views on the surgery’s future. Following that engagement period, the health board considered several options, including continuing as a standalone managed practice, dispersing patients to other practices, and undertaking a procurement exercise to seek a new provider.
The procurement option was preferred, but no bids to take over the site were received by the health board.
Merger with Kidwelly surgery proposed
A new plan has now been proposed whereby Meddygfa Minafon, another Hywel Dda managed surgery in Kidwelly, six miles from Pontyates, will merge with Meddygfa’r Sarn. This would mean GP services remain in Pontyates, with the current site used as a branch surgery.
If the plans receive final approval following a four-week engagement period, staffing would be managed across Meddygfa Minafon, Trimsaran branch surgery and the Pontyates branch surgery to “support a more sustainable model for GP services while retaining local access in Pontyates”.
Public engagement to open in November
“We are very grateful to everyone who took the time to share their views with us earlier this year,” said Andrew Carruthers, the health board’s chief operating officer. “We heard clearly how important it is to the community to retain access to GP services locally in Pontyates.”
“Following the outcome of the procurement process, the Vacant Practice Panel has recommended a model that would see Meddygfa’r Sarn merge with Meddygfa Minafon, while continuing to provide services from a branch surgery in Pontyates,” he added.
The engagement period opens on Monday, November 2, giving patients and the wider community an opportunity to share their views on the recommendation. No final decision has been made, and the health board will consider feedback before implementing any plans from April 1.
