Board agrees to engage on impact of proposed changes to GP services at Meddygfa'r Sarn

29 January 2026

Hywel Dda University Health Board has agreed to hear the views of patients and the local community before making a final decision regarding proposed changes to GP services for patients of Meddygfa’r Sarn.

At its meeting today (29 January 2026), the recommendation of a Vacant Practice Panel to close the Pontyates surgery and move patients to another GP practice closest to their home was discussed.

The Board decided to engage with the local community for eight weeks starting on Monday 9 February on this recommendation before making a final decision. This will enable the Board to better understand the potential impacts of this recommendation and what could be put in place to support patients who may be impacted.

The feedback received will assist the Board in making a final decision at its meeting on 28 May.

The engagement period will run for eight weeks, from Monday 9 February to Monday 6 April 2026.

During this time, patients, staff, and key stakeholders will be able to meet with the health board by attending one of our public drop-in events and sharing their views in person.

Patients of Meddygfa'r Sarn will also be invited to complete a survey, which will be available online and in paper format from Monday 9 February.

These events will be advertised as soon as possible, and the health board will write to all patients with details of how they can share their views.

Meddygfa’r Sarn has been a health board managed practice since 2017, following the resignation of the GMS contract by the former GP partners. The practice currently provides services to around 4,350 patients.

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 panel considered a range of options, including continued management of the practice, merger with neighbouring practices, procurement of a new provider, and managed dispersal of the patient list. The Panel concluded that managed dispersal offered the most sustainable long-term solution for patients and for primary care services in the Amman Gwendraeth area.

The recommendation would see patients transferred by the health board to GP practices closest to their home address. These include Coalbrook Surgery in Pontyberem, Meddygfa Minafon in Kidwelly, and for a smaller number of patients, practices in Llanelli.

Andrew Carruthers, Chief Operating Officer at Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “As a health board, we have a responsibility to ensure that patients can 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. The engagement period will allow people to share their views, ask questions, and help inform the Board’s decision in May.

“No changes will happen during this engagement period, and we want to reassure patients that services at Meddygfa’r Sarn will continue as normal. I look forward to meeting with members of the community during the engagement events.”

During the engagement period, Meddygfa’r Sarn will remain open and patients should continue to access services in the normal way. The health board appreciates the support shown to the team at Meddygfa’r Sarn during this period of change for staff and patients.

Further information about the engagement process, including how people can share their views, will be shared in the coming days.