Board Meeting in public discusses application to close Belmont Branch Surgery

Powys Teaching Health Board will consider the application received from Crickhowell Group Practice to close Belmont Branch Surgery in Gilwern at a meeting in public (online) at 9.30am on Wednesday 24 May 2023.

When we receive applications of this nature they are considered in accordance with our branch surgery review process, including the period of engagement from 10 January 2023 to 6 March 2023. We were very grateful to over 700 patients and wider stakeholders who shared their views as part of that engagement. The feedback we received has been summarised in the engagement report which we published in March on our engagement hub at https://www.haveyoursaypowys.wales/gilwern. An updated version of this report will be included in our Board papers.

Following engagement, the application from the practice and the response from patients and stakeholders has been considered by our Branch Practice Review Panel. The Panel gave careful and diligent consideration to all available information and came to the view that no feasible alternatives to accepting the application had been identified. They will therefore be recommending this to the Board at its meeting next week.

This recommendation has clearly not been made lightly, particularly recognising the strength of feeling from the community and the views shared about the potential impact of closure of the branch surgery. Clearly if the recommendation is accepted by the Board we will wish to ensure that a robust mitigation plan is in place that responds to the issues and concerns.

A copy of the papers will be available in advance of the meeting from our website at https://pthb.nhs.wales/board-meetings. Our Board meetings currently take place online via Microsoft Teams, and this page will also include information about how to join the proceedings.