The application to close Belmont Branch surgery has been approved by the Board

Powys Teaching Health Board has today agreed to accept an application from Crickhowell Group Practice to close their branch surgery in Gilwern in Monmouthshire.

The decision was made at a meeting of the Board on 24 May 2023 in line with the health board’s branch practice review process which included: review of the application from the practice; engagement with patients and local stakeholders; careful consideration of potential alternatives to accepting the application; and, identification of actions that should be taken if the application is accepted.

The Board discussed the clear strength of feeling about the application. But, as alternative options for maintaining General Medical Services had been adequately explored within Powys Teaching Health Board and with Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, with no viable options available, the Board accepted the recommendation made by the Branch Practice Review Panel to approve the application.

The Board acknowledged that this decision would be received with disappointment by local patients, and agreed a mitigation plan to respond to issues and concerns that were raised during the engagement period. The Board therefore agreed that the branch surgery should close no earlier than 30 November 2023 in order that this plan can be implemented, with updates one the mitigation due to be agreed at meetings of the Board every two months.

It is important to stress that all patients continue to be registered with Crickhowell Group Practice, which remains committed to continue to offer general medical services to all patients within their practice catchment. They also remain open to new registrations by patients within their catchment.

Crickhowell Group Practice would like to reassure patients from Gilwern and surrounding communities that they can continue to access all Practice services from the Crickhowell War Memorial Health Centre; telephone consultations, house visits, and all Health Board attached services will continue to be available as required.

Later this summer Crickhowell Group Practice will write to the households of all registered patients with further details of these changes to inform them of the closure and their continued access to services from the practice at their War Memorial Health Centre premises in Crickhowell as well as via other routes including telephone and online.

The health board will continue to share regular updates over the coming months including on progress on the mitigation plan.