Board to consider delivery of GP services for patients of Meddygfa'r Sarn
22 January 2026
Hywel Dda University Health Board will consider the future delivery of general medical services for patients registered at Meddygfa’r Sarn at its Board meeting on Thursday 29 January.
A paper for discussion sets out a review of how General Medical Services (GMS) are currently provided at the practice in Pontyates and recommends a managed dispersal of patients to neighbouring practices from 30 June 2026. Under the recommendation, all patients would be transferred to another practice that is local to their home address.
Meddygfa’r Sarn has been a health board managed practice since 2017 following the resignation of its GMS contract by the former GP partners. Since then, the health board has been responsible for providing services for the practice’s registered population of around 4,350 patients.
In recent years, the practice has faced staffing challenges and currently has no permanently employed doctors. The building itself is small and offers limited facilities.
In October 2025, following national guidance, the health board convened a Vacant Practice Panel. The panel reviewed options for the long-term provision of GP services in the area, taking into account patient access, workforce sustainability, premises, quality of care, and financial considerations.
The panel concluded that a managed dispersal of patients offered the most sustainable long-term solution for patients and for primary care services in the Amman Gwendraeth area.
If the Board approves the recommendation, it will mean all patients being transferred by the health board to the next nearest practice to their home address, including Coalbrook Surgery in Pontyberem, Meddygfa Minafon in Kidwelly and for a smaller number of patients, practices in Llanelli.
No decision has been made, and the Board meeting on 29 January will be an opportunity for members to consider the recommendation and the next steps.
Andrew Carruthers, Chief Operating Officer at Hywel Dda, said: “As a health board we have a duty to ensure safe, sustainable and high-quality delivery of General Medical Services for our population.
“Meddygfa’r Sarn is a small and rural practice and has struggled to provide the level of continuity of care and services we would like for our patients. The panel felt that dispersing the patient list is the best way forward to ensure that patients have access to the best possible care and the Board will give careful consideration to this recommendation.
“If the recommendation of the Vacant Practice Panel is approved, the health board is committed to engaging with patients, staff, local communities and stakeholders before any changes are implemented to understand how the change could impact them and consider any mitigations needed.”
For more information, the Board paper is available to read here Board agenda and papers 29 January 2026 (opens in new tab) and the Board meeting will be broadcast live from 9.30am on Thursday 29 January on www.youtube.com/hywelddahealthboard1 (opens in new tab).