Health board to hold extra public meeting on controversial Pontyates GP surgery closure plans

The health board has confirmed it will hold a drop-in event at Carway Hall on Tuesday 31 March, between 2pm and 6.30pm, for patients and residents to share their views on the proposed closure of Meddygfa’r Sarn.

The announcement comes amid an ongoing eight-week engagement period, which was launched after the health board voted in January to seek feedback on a recommendation to disperse the surgery’s 4,300 patients to neighbouring practices.

That proposal has sparked a furious backlash from the local community, with hundreds of people attending protest meetings and councillors demanding the health board halt the closure plans.

In a statement, the health board said the surgery has faced what it describes as “ongoing and significant staffing challenges” and currently has no permanently employed GPs. The board also claims the building is small and offers limited facilities.

It says that a Vacant Practice Panel reviewed the options and recommended that the most sustainable long-term solution would be for patients to be transferred to their nearest neighbouring practice.

The health board added this may include Coalbrook Surgery in Pontyberem, Meddygfa Minafon in Kidwelly, or, for some patients, practices in Llanelli.

Andrew Carruthers, Chief Operating Officer at Hywel Dda University Health Board, said the extra meeting was a chance for more people to have their say.

“We’re pleased to offer this additional opportunity in Carway to ensure more people, particularly those in surrounding communities, have the chance to speak directly with us and share their views about what the proposal means for them.”

The health board has confirmed the engagement period runs until 6 April.

It said all feedback will be collated and presented to the board ahead of its meeting on 28 May, when a final decision is expected to be made.

The health board also confirmed that Meddygfa’r Sarn will remain open as usual during the engagement period.

Patients can also provide feedback by completing the questionnaire posted to their home address or online at haveyoursay.hduhb.wales.nhs.uk, by calling 0300 303 8322 (option 5), or by emailing [email protected].

#Carway #GP #GPSurgery #GPSurgeryClosure #HywelDdaUniversityHealthBoard #Kidwelly #MeddygfaRSarn #NHS #Pontyates #Pontyberem

Hundreds protest to save Pontyates GP surgery as council demands action

Over 100 supporters formed a human chain around the surgery on Tuesday, 24th February, in a ‘Cwtsho’r Sarn’ solidarity event designed to show the strength of feeling in the community against the closure plans. The protest came as Hywel Dda University Health Board held a drop-in engagement session in the nearby Memorial Hall, which saw hundreds of worried residents attend to voice their concerns.

Hywel Dda is currently holding an eight-week consultation on the future of the surgery, with its preferred option being to disperse the practice’s 3,000 patients to other surgeries in the area.

Hundreds of worried residents packed the nearby Memorial Hall for a drop-in engagement session organised by Hywel Dda health board, with queues forming outside at times. Image: Papur y Cwm

Organisers of the human chain, which had been planned as a highly visual show of solidarity, said they were delighted with the strong turnout. They were joined by local councillors and received backing from Senedd members including Adam Price and Cefin Campbell.

Llanelli MS Lee Waters, who has previously raised the alarm over the surgery’s future, pledged to continue advocating on behalf of patients. He said: “Local GP services matter. They’re about access, continuity of care, and supporting the health of the whole community.”

Residents form a human chain outside Meddygfa’r Sarn in Pontyates, holding banners including “Keep Care Close to Home – Pontiets Needs Its Surgery” as part of the Cwtsho’r Sarn solidarity event on Tuesday 24th February. Image: Papur y Cwm

At the engagement event, residents raised concerns about the capacity of the neighbouring Coalbrook surgery in Pontyberem to absorb the extra patients, citing access issues, limited parking, and long waiting times.

Long-term patient Ffani Cattran, 77, felt that concerns about transport for those without cars were not adequately addressed. “They haven’t taken on board the transport issues and are assuming that people will be able to get lifts, which is neither fair nor reasonable,” she said. “This is a deprived area with historic health inequalities from its industrial past.”

Staff from Meddygfa’r Sarn surgery in Pontyates show their support for the campaign to keep the practice open. Image: Papur y Cwm

The protests follow a decision by Carmarthenshire County Council on 25th February to demand action from the Health Board. The council passed a motion to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, asking for alternatives to closure to be properly considered. The council will also write to Hywel Dda’s Chair and Chief Executive to request that a Health Impact Assessment and an Equality Impact Assessment are published and considered before any final decision is made.

The campaign’s petition to save the surgery, which has gathered approximately 3,000 signatures, is set to be considered by the Senedd’s Petitions Committee on 2nd March.

#Carmarthenshire #CwtshoRSarn #GPSurgery #GPSurgeryClosure #HywelDda #HywelDdaUniversityHealthBoard #MeddygfaRSarn #NHS #Pontiets #Pontyates #PontyatesDoctorsSurgery #protest

Council demands action on Pontyates surgery closure as councillors warn of “predetermined outcome”

The motion, proposed by Plaid Cymru councillors Alex Evans and Tyssul Evans and passed at today’s full Carmarthenshire County Council meeting, calls on both Welsh Government and Hywel Dda to explain why closure has been identified as the “preferred option” before full community consultation has taken place.

The debate saw 11 councillors speak, with powerful criticisms of the health board’s engagement process and warnings that neighbouring GP surgeries are already operating “beyond full capacity” and cannot absorb thousands more patients.

Cllr Alex Evans told the chamber that Hywel Dda had informed local councillors the current engagement “will not consider alternatives to closure, only the impact the closure would have.”

“That is not engagement on securing the future of a service, that is an engagement on managing its loss,” he said. “If an engagement does not consider an alternative, it inevitably creates the impression that the outcome has already been decided.”

He warned that relocating thousands of patients to already stretched practices “will not remove pressure from the system, it just redistributes it.”

“Our communities should not have to suffer the consequences of a national failure of government to train, recruit and retain GPs,” Cllr Evans said, noting that around 100 GP surgeries have closed in Wales since 2012 whilst GP numbers have barely increased since 2008.

“Closure must be the last option, not the easiest one,” he concluded.

Public transport nightmare

Cllr Tyssul Evans highlighted the absurdity of public transport options for patients without cars, revealing that whilst Pontyates and Kidwelly are less than six miles apart by direct route, patients relying on buses would face a 15-mile journey one way via Llanelli, or a 20-mile journey via Carmarthen.

“This means a six-mile journey becomes either a 30-mile or 40-mile round trip for elderly, disabled, or vulnerable patients needing regular appointments,” he said.

Cross-community solidarity

Cllr Liam Bowen, representing Pontyberem, said the manager of Colebrook Surgery in his village was supporting the campaign to save Meddygfa’r Sarn, despite the practice being prepared to take displaced patients if necessary.

He revealed that Colebrook already has over 5,000 registered patients, and local people are concerned that adding thousands more following the closure of Tumble Surgery and potentially Pontyates would lead to unacceptable waiting times.

“The residents of Pontyberem are standing firmly with the residents of Pontyates,” Cllr Bowen said. “Closing Sarn surgery is another example of care services being taken out of our rural communities.”

Pattern of failed consultations

Independent councillor Sean Rees delivered a devastating critique of Hywel Dda’s consultation processes, listing multiple examples where community engagement had failed to meaningfully consider alternatives.

“Local GP surgeries are not simply just buildings where appointments take place, they are the front door to our national health service,” he said.

Cllr Rees said he had spoken to many Llanelli-based GP practices, and many were already operating “at full capacity, and many would say they are beyond that.”

“Appointment books are filled within minutes. Patients speak of repeated attempts to try and get through on the phone at 8am in the morning,” he said.

“To simply suggest that thousands more patients can be absorbed into a system without any consequence at all is just simply not credible.”

He cited failures in consultations over the minor injuries unit at Prince Philip Hospital, last week’s clinical services plan outcomes, the relocation of the Dyfed Drug and Alcohol service, and ongoing questions regarding blood testing services that were due to move to Pentre Awel last year but remain unresolved.

“When these commitments are made and when timelines slip without clear explanation, confidence erodes and trust weakens,” Cllr Rees said.

“If a board’s report has already identified closure as a preferred option before any full community consultation, then it is absolutely entirely understandable that the residents will fear that the outcomes are predetermined. That undermines trust and once that public trust is damaged it is extremely difficult to rebuild. We simply cannot allow this pattern to continue.”

Housing growth contradicts closure

Cllr Steve Williams questioned how the closure could be justified when new housing is being built in the area and the population is rising.

“What is the Senedd doing to ensure that primary care is available to those that need it the most?” he asked, demanding Welsh Government oversight on healthcare planning.

Community protest

Cllr Meinir James noted that over 200 local residents and councillors had formed a human chain around the surgery on Monday in a “Cwtsh or Sarn” solidarity event, following a petition that has gathered over 1,000 signatures.

Impact on neighbouring surgeries

The motion highlighted that if Meddygfa’r Sarn closes, Colebrook Surgery in Pontyberem would receive an extra 3,000 patients – a 60 per cent increase – taking its total to 8,000, whilst Minafon in Kidwelly would gain 1,000 extra patients, taking it to over 9,000.

National workforce crisis

Cllr Evans told councillors that according to Llais, 91 per cent of GPs say they cannot meet patient demand in Wales, and BMA Cymru has warned of a GP workforce crisis, with alarmingly over 10 per cent of GPs under 40 leaving the workforce in 2023.

He said Welsh Government is spending a “record low 6 per cent of the budget on Primary Care” at a time when services are being reduced not because they are no longer needed, but because the workforce is not there.

Minor dissent

Two councillors raised concerns about the motion’s tone. Cllr Michael Thomas claimed it was “too negative” and didn’t outline alternatives, whilst Cllr Martyn Palfreyman criticised what he called “partisan comments” from Cllr Alex Evans in blaming Welsh Government.

Cllr Evans disputed the partisan claim, saying he had not mentioned any political parties and that the opposition Labour group had not submitted any amendments to the motion despite having the opportunity to do so.

What the motion demands

The motion calls on Welsh Government to explain what steps are being taken to prevent GP surgery closures across Wales and to ensure that alternatives to closure are genuinely considered in all cases.

It demands that Hywel Dda University Health Board publish its Health Impact Assessment and Equality Impact Assessment, explain why closure was identified as the preferred option before full consultation, and publish its assessment of all alternatives to closure.

The motion was passed following the debate.

#CarmarthenshireCouncil #CarmarthenshireCountyCouncil #CllrAlexEvans #CllrLiamBowen #CllrMeinirJames #CllrSeanRees #CllrSteveWilliams #CllrTyssulEvans #GPSurgery #GPSurgeryClosure #HywelDdaUniversityHealthBoard #Kidwelly #MeddygfaRSarn #Pontyates #Pontyberem

Pontyates residents to form human chain around surgery in ‘Cwtsho’r Sarn’ solidarity event as petition tops 1,000 signatures

The “Cwtsho’r Sarn” event – meaning “hug the surgery” in Welsh – will see residents encircle Meddygfa’r Sarn at 3.30pm on 24 February to demonstrate how much the facility means to the community.

The solidarity event has been deliberately scheduled to coincide with Hywel Dda University Health Board’s drop-in session at the nearby Memorial Hall, where officials will listen to patients’ concerns about the proposed closure.

Christine MacTavish, who has been a patient at Meddygfa’r Sarn since 1982, said:

“We want to show Hywel Dda how much we value our surgery and the staff that work there.”

The campaign has gathered remarkable momentum since residents launched a fresh fight to save the surgery earlier this month, with more than 1,000 people signing a Senedd petition in just three weeks.

Organisers hope supporters will attend both the Cwtsho’r Sarn event and the subsequent Hywel Dda drop-in session.

“We want residents to tell the Health Board how vital the surgery is to them and how difficult it will be for vulnerable people to access health care if the closure goes ahead,”

said campaign group leader Clare Treharne.

Save Our Surgery campaigners Clare Treharne and Jane Nicholas holding bilingual posters urging residents to oppose the planned closure of Pontyates GP Surgery.

Campaigners say Hywel Dda may have underestimated the strength of feeling locally, with residents angry that the Health Board appears to have had initial discussions with third parties and made plans for closure before informing patients.

David Priest, a founder member of the group and a resident in the area since the 1970s, said:

“Residents are well informed and know the history of their surgery better than officials and are ready to robustly challenge the rationale for closure and expose its flaws.”

The online petition, which runs until 1 March, will be considered by the Petitions Committee of the Senedd in their meeting in early March. Alongside the petition, the campaign group will submit detailed written evidence challenging the case for closure made by the Health Board.

Clare Treharne added:

“Many of the reasons cited by Hywel Dda do not stand up to scrutiny and we feel that some are deliberately misleading. We have highlighted these in our evidence to the committee and we very much hope that members will recommend that the Health Board reconsider its plans.”

The campaign has already secured significant political support, with Llanelli MS Lee Waters raising alarm over fears the surgery is being “wound down” before any final decision has been made.

Local councillors have also said they’ve “lost all confidence” in the Health Board’s process and formally demanded a halt to the closure plans.

The future of Meddygfa’r Sarn was first thrown into doubt in January when Hywel Dda announced it was considering dispersing all 4,300 patients to other practices.

The Health Board launched an eight-week consultation in February after delaying a final decision following intense community pressure.

Residents have warned that losing the surgery would be a “massive blow” to Pontyates and surrounding villages, with vulnerable and elderly patients facing significantly worse access to healthcare.

#GPSurgery #GPSurgeryClosure #HywelDdaUniversityHealthBoard #MeddygfaRSarn #petition #Pontyates #PontyatesMemorialHall

Health board launches eight‑week consultation as future of Pontyates GP surgery hangs in the balance

The move comes after months of community anger, political pressure and repeated warnings from residents that losing Meddygfa’r Sarn would be a “massive blow” to the village. The health board had been expected to make a final decision last month, but delayed the vote following a fierce backlash and calls from councillors to halt the closure plans.

Now, officials say they want to “listen carefully” before deciding whether to press ahead with the recommendation to shut the practice and transfer patients to surgeries in Pontyberem, Kidwelly or Llanelli.

The engagement period runs from 9 February to 6 April, with questionnaires being posted to every household and drop‑in events planned in Pontyates and Pontyberem.

Hywel Dda says the surgery has faced “ongoing and significant staffing challenges” for years and currently has no permanently employed GPs. The building itself is described as small, outdated and offering “limited facilities”.

In October, the health board convened a Vacant Practice Panel — a process used when a GP practice can no longer sustain itself — which concluded that dispersing the patient list was the “most sustainable long‑term solution”.

But the proposal has sparked deep concern in the Amman Gwendraeth area, where residents say the surgery is a lifeline for older people, those without transport and families who rely on being able to see a doctor locally.

Local councillors have repeatedly urged the health board to rethink, warning that neighbouring practices are already under pressure and that dispersal could leave vulnerable patients travelling miles for care.

In a statement launching the engagement period, Andrew Carruthers, Chief Operating Officer at Hywel Dda, acknowledged the strength of feeling.

“We understand the impact this proposed change has had on the local community in Pontyates and so we want to listen carefully to the views of those most affected,” he said.

“Your feedback will help us explore what support may be needed and will inform the Board when it considers the recommendation in May.”

Residents can return paper questionnaires to Meddygfa’r Sarn or Pontyates Community Pharmacy, complete the survey online, or attend one of two public drop‑in sessions:

Tuesday 24 February, 1pm–6.30pm, Pontyates Welfare Hall
Tuesday 3 March, 3pm–6pm, Pontyberem Memorial Hall

Feedback can also be submitted by phone or email by emailing [email protected], and Llais — the statutory patient voice body — is gathering views separately.

All responses will be presented to the health board ahead of its meeting on 28 May, when the future of the surgery will finally be decided.

For now, Meddygfa’r Sarn remains open as usual — but the community knows the clock is ticking.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Pontyates surgery gets temporary lifeline
Health board delays its final decision after community pressure.

Councillors demand halt to closure plans
Local representatives call for a pause as concerns grow.

Community backlash grows over surgery’s future
Residents warn closure would be a “massive blow” to the village.

Future of Pontyates GP surgery in doubt
Health board considers dispersing all 4,300 patients to other practices.

#GPSurgery #GPSurgeryClosure #HywelDdaUniversityHealthBoard #MeddygfaRSarn #Pontyates #PontyatesDoctorsSurgery

Pontyates surgery gets temporary lifeline as health board delays final decision

Hywel Dda confirmed today that it will not immediately adopt a recommendation from its Vacant Practice Panel to close the Pontyates site and disperse all 4,350 patients to neighbouring practices. Instead, the Board said it will “hear the views of patients and the local community” before making a final decision in May.

The recommendation to close the surgery was first set out by the Vacant Practice Panel, which Hywel Dda convened in October 2025 “in line with national guidance” to review long‑term options for Meddygfa’r Sarn. According to the health board, the panel examined continued health board management, mergers with neighbouring practices, procuring a new provider, and managed dispersal. Hywel Dda said the panel concluded that dispersal “offered the most sustainable long‑term solution”.

The Board discussed that recommendation at its meeting on Thursday but agreed to pause the process and begin an eight‑week engagement period from Monday 9 February to Monday 6 April. Hywel Dda said the purpose is to understand “the potential impacts” of the proposal and what support may be needed if the closure goes ahead.

Andrew Carruthers, Chief Operating Officer at Hywel Dda University Health Board, said the Board had a duty to ensure patients could access “safe, high‑quality and sustainable GP services”.

“We recognise that this recommendation may mean significant change for patients and communities, which is why it is essential that we take the time to listen before making a final decision,” he said. “The engagement period will allow people to share their views, ask questions, and help inform the Board’s decision in May.”

Hywel Dda said no changes will take place during the engagement period and stressed that Meddygfa’r Sarn “will continue as normal”. The health board also thanked the community for the support shown to staff during what it described as “a period of change”.

The health board said patients, staff and stakeholders will be able to attend public drop‑in events during the engagement period, with dates to be announced shortly. Patients will also receive letters explaining how to take part, and a survey will be available online and in paper form from 9 February.

Meddygfa’r Sarn has been directly managed by Hywel Dda since 2017, after the former GP partners resigned their contract. The health board said the practice has faced “ongoing and significant staffing challenges” and currently has no permanently employed GPs. It also described the Pontyates building as “small” with “limited facilities”.

If the panel’s recommendation is ultimately approved, Hywel Dda said patients would be transferred to the nearest suitable practice, including Coalbrook Surgery in Pontyberem, Meddygfa Minafon in Kidwelly, and for some patients, practices in Llanelli.

The announcement follows months of public pressure, with councillors and residents previously warning that closing the Pontyates site would be a “massive blow” to the village and surrounding communities.

Hywel Dda said further information about the engagement process will be shared in the coming days.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Councillors demand halt to Pontyates GP surgery closure plans as pressure mounts on Hywel Dda
Local representatives urged the health board to pause its proposals, warning of serious consequences for the community.

Community backlash grows as residents warn closure of Pontyates GP surgery would be a ‘massive blow’
Residents voiced fears over losing vital local healthcare and the impact on vulnerable patients.

Future of Pontyates GP surgery in doubt as health board considers dispersing all 4,300 patients
Hywel Dda first confirmed it was reviewing long‑term options for Meddygfa’r Sarn amid staffing challenges.

#doctorsSurgery #GPSurgery #HywelDdaUniversityHealthBoard #MeddygfaRSarn #Pontiets #Pontyates

Community backlash grows as residents warn closure of Pontyates GP surgery would be “a massive blow”

The outcry follows Swansea Bay News’ report that Hywel Dda University Health Board is considering dispersing all 4,300 patients from Meddygfa’r Sarn to neighbouring practices from June 2026. Local councillors said they were “shocked” to learn of the proposal and had received no prior warning.

Councillors say they were blindsided by the announcement

Cllr Tyssul Evans and Cllr Meinir James, who both represent Llangyndeyrn Ward, and Cllr Alex Evans, who represents Glyn Ward, said they only discovered the proposal when the health board’s press release appeared on Facebook.

Cllr Tyssul Evans, Cllr Meinir James (Llangyndeyrn Ward) and Cllr Alex Evans (Glyn Ward) said:

“We were shocked to learn yesterday, via a press release shared on Facebook, of Hywel Dda University Health Board’s plans to consider closing Meddygfa’r Sarn GP surgery in Pontyates. We had no prior knowledge that the surgery was even at risk of closing and we fully appreciate the anxiety and concern this announcement will have caused for patients and residents.

“We understand the real concerns about how patients would be able to access GP care if the 4,300 patients registered in Pontyates were transferred to other surgeries in Pontyberem, Kidwelly and Llanelli. There is no direct bus route to Pontyberem for many patients registered at Meddygfa’r Sarn and there is no direct bus for anyone to Kidwelly. We also appreciate the potential knock‑on effect this could have on other local services in the village, including the chemist.

“We want to reassure everyone that we will do everything we can to save the surgery in Pontyates from closing. We will be launching a petition and outlining the further actions we propose to take in support of a campaign to save Meddygfa’r Sarn next week. We will be sure to keep you all fully updated as these details are finalised.”

Residents say closure would leave thousands cut off

Dozens of residents have now taken to social media to condemn the potential closure, describing the surgery as a lifeline for Pontyates and surrounding villages.

Many warned that neighbouring practices in Pontyberem, Kidwelly and Llanelli are already overstretched, with long waits for appointments and limited capacity.

Phillip Griffiths said the plan “makes no sense”, arguing that Pontyates Surgery is centrally located, has good parking and sits next to the village chemist. Others raised fears that the chemist itself could be at risk if the GP service disappears.

Kaye Hamer said many residents simply had no way of travelling to other surgeries. Jo Clarke warned the move would hit older patients hardest, saying it was “wrong” to expect people who have lived in the village all their lives to travel miles for care.

Lorraine Edwards said the proposal came “just when you think healthcare couldn’t get any worse”, while Andrew Williams said neighbouring practices already rely heavily on locum doctors, making continuity of care difficult.

Front view of Meddygfa’r Sarn in Pontyates, the GP surgery at the centre of proposals to disperse its patient list. Image: Google Maps.

Concerns over transport, capacity and impact on elderly patients

Residents repeatedly highlighted the lack of direct bus routes to Pontyberem and Kidwelly, with some journeys requiring multiple changes and taking hours.

Julie Harry said public transport was “absolutely non‑existent”, while Andrea Gower questioned how the health board expected patients to travel at all. She also disputed claims the site sits on a flood plain, saying she had “never seen the place flooded”.

Others warned the closure would be a “massive blow” to the village, particularly for elderly and vulnerable residents.

Lisa Evans‑James said her 93‑year‑old grandmother had relied on the surgery for decades and could not travel further afield. She said the practice offered continuity, familiarity and reassurance that could not be replaced by dispersing patients across multiple towns.

“This surgery isn’t just a building – it’s familiar faces, continuity of care, and reassurance,” she said. “To the health board we may just be numbers on a list, but behind every number is a person, a family, and a real need for accessible care.”

Petition launched as anger builds

A petition launched by local resident Clare Treharne has gathered more than 500 signatures in less than 24 hours. She warned that dispersing patients would mean longer travel distances, reduced continuity of care and increased pressure on already overstretched practices.

The petition calls on Hywel Dda to reject the proposal, consult properly with residents and commit to keeping GP services in Pontyates.

Health board urged to rethink

Many residents accused the health board of failing to understand the geography of the area or the realities of rural transport.

Helen Thomas said Pontyberem Surgery “can’t cope as it is”, while Ryan Hayhurst described the proposal as “outrageous”. Others warned the move would push more patients into already overstretched A&E departments.

Caroline Owens Green said the community “can’t sit back and let the health board push this through”, while Kerry Jane Hards said life would be “desperate” without the surgery.

Hywel Dda University Health Board has said no final decision has been made and that it will consider feedback before any recommendation is taken forward.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Future of Pontyates GP surgery in doubt
Health board confirms it is considering dispersing all 4,300 patients to neighbouring practices.

Petition: Save Meddygfa’r Sarn GP Surgery
More than 500 people sign within 24 hours as residents rally to protect local healthcare.

#CllrAlexEvans #CllrMeinirJames #CllrTyssulEvans #GP #GPSurgery #HywelDdaUniversityHealthBoard #Llangyndeyrn #MeddygfaRSarn #petition #Pontiets #Pontyates #PontyatesDoctorsSurgery

Shalom House charity confirms closure as health board pledges continuity of care

Charity confirms closure

Shalom House, based in St Davids, announced that it will cease operations after years of financial struggle. In a statement, the trustees said:

“It is with a very heavy heart that we announce the closure of Shalom House Hospice in St Davids, which has served the whole of Pembrokeshire for many years. Sadly, ongoing financial difficulties and a lack of sustainable funding mean we have no alternative but to close.”

The charity thanked staff, volunteers and the community for their “tireless commitment and generosity,” noting that local fundraising had given the hospice “precious extra years” of service.

“Continuity of care is our priority,” says health board

Hywel Dda University Health Board confirmed it is in discussions with Shalom House about the future of the branch surgery for Meddygfa Penrhyn, which has been operating from the Nun Street site since the closure of St Davids Surgery in 2024.

Jill Paterson, Director of Primary Care, Community and Long‑Term Care, said:

“We are sorry to hear that the Shalom House Charity will be closing and recognise the significant contribution it has made to the local community over the years. Our priority now is to ensure continuity of care for patients registered with Meddygfa Penrhyn. We will work closely with the charity, our partners and stakeholders to explore future provision of these important services locally.”

The branch surgery will continue to operate as normal until 31 October, and patients are advised to attend booked appointments as usual.

End of an era for St Davids hospice

Founded in 2007 after a decade of fundraising, Shalom House has provided palliative and respite care for patients across Pembrokeshire, as well as day services and community support. Its closure marks the end of nearly two decades of service in St Davids.

Local campaigners who fought to “Save Shalom House” said the announcement was a “huge loss” for the city and surrounding communities.

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