HEALTH board bosses will find a new GP to provide care to people in the Gwendraeth Valley.

Hywel Dda University Health Board held an extraordinary board meeting on Thursday, December 14 to discuss how they will proceed with care to the patients registered at Cross Hands and Tumble GP surgeries.

The meeting followed a consultation period where residents, patients, and the vacant practice panel which includes representatives from Llais and the local medical committee and stakeholders provided their own feedback as the Cross Hands and Tumble Medical Partnership resigned its General Medical Services contract to come into effect at the end of March 2024. This was due to being unable to find enough staff.

The health board has agreed that a ‘formal procurement exercise’ should be carried out to get a new General Medical Services provider to take over the running of the surgeries.

However, the board also agreed that if they are unable to find a suitable single provider for the provision of the services from March 2024, then they will consider all other options including the possibility of moving registered patients to neighbouring practices, or to take on the whole practice population as a health board managed practice.

Judith Hardisty, acting chairwoman of the health board, said: “We have listened to the patients of Cross Hands and Tumble surgeries and our local stakeholders, including neighbouring practices. A formal procurement exercise will now be undertaken to secure a new General Medical Services provider to deliver care for registered patients.

“On behalf of the board, I would like to thank all involved in this process and everyone who took the time to provide their feedback. It is important that members of our community have an opportunity to engage and be a part of the process.”

Jill Paterson, the health board’s director of primary care, community and long-term care, said: “Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their views with us. The health board is committed to listening to and engaging with our local populations and we would like to thank patients and stakeholders for their involvement in the process.

“As is standard practice, the health board, prior to the vacant practice panel, sought expressions of interest to help inform the process the panel undertakes. The health board received two expressions of interest from neighbouring GP practices in taking on the registered population and this is also the preferred option expressed by patients through the feedback we received.

“The health board will now move forward with a formal procurement process following today’s decision by the board. We will continue to work with the partners and staff of Cross Hands and Tumble Medical Partnership to maintain safe and effective services for patients and we are grateful to them for their continued efforts during this time of uncertainty.

“We will write to registered patients to update them on the decision made by the board today and will ensure members of our community are kept informed of this ongoing process.”