Additional Meddygfa'r Sarn engagement event confirmed for Carway

3 March 2026

An additional opportunity for people to share their views on the proposed changes to GP services at Meddygfa’r Sarn in Pontyates will be held in Carway on Tuesday 31 March, between 2pm and 6.30pm, at Carway Hall (SA17 4HE).

Patients and members of the community can drop in at any time to speak with representatives from the health board in small group discussions.

Hywel Dda University Health Board is currently undertaking an eight-week engagement period, running from 9 February to 6 April 2026, to gather views from patients and the local community on the proposed changes to GP services at Meddygfa’r Sarn.

This follows the Board’s decision in January to seek feedback before making a decision on a recommendation to disperse the patient list to neighbouring practices.

In recent years, the practice has faced ongoing and significant staffing challenges and currently has no permanently employed GPs. The building itself is small and offers limited facilities. In October 2025, in line with national guidance, the health board convened a Vacant Practice Panel to review options for the long-term provision of GP services in the area.

The recommendation made by the Vacant Practice Panel proposes that the most sustainable long-term solution for patients, and for primary care services in the Amman Gwendraeth area, is for patients to be transferred to their nearest neighbouring practice. 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: “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.”

Patients can continue to provide feedback by completing the questionnaire posted to their home address or completing it online via the Have Your Say website www.haveyoursay.hduhb.wales.nhs.uk (opens in new tab).

People can also share their views by calling the health board’s Communications Hub on 0300 303 8322 (option 5), emailing ask.hdd@wales.nhs.uk, or contacting Llais via westwalesenquiries@llaiscymru.org or 01646 697610.

Feedback gathered throughout the engagement period will help the health board understand how any potential transfer of patients to neighbouring GP practices may affect patients, and what matters most to the community in the delivery of local primary care services.

All feedback submitted by 6 April will be collated and presented to the Board ahead of its meeting on 28 May, when the recommendation will be considered.

Meddygfa’r Sarn remains open as usual during the engagement period.