Residents plan to raise £520,000 to buy GP surgery

People sat in rows in a community room, their backs to the camera and facing a stage on which four people sat behind a table. — More than 150 residents gathered to discuss the future of their medical practice (BBC)

Residents of the UK’s smallest town have rallied together to try to save their GP practice.

It was announced in July that St Davids’ only GP surgery would close at the end of October, affecting around 3,000 patients.

Campaigners have appealed the decision and are planning to raise more than half a million pounds to buy the building.

Hywel Dda University Health Board said it was working to set up a branch in the Pembrokeshire town, which would provide nurse-led services for part of the week.

The practice’s only GP, Dr Stephen Riley, resigned from the general medical services contract in April after failing to recruit new partners.

At a public meeting on Tuesday, more than 150 people gathered to discuss their appeal of the health board’s decision to move patients.

Most patients are expected to be transferred to a practice in Solva, two and a half miles from St Davids.

Dr Richard Hayward said the decision was “reckless” as the winter months approached.

“People will say it’s only three miles, but for locals it’s a tough three miles,” he said.

Dr Hayward added that Solva’s practice only had 16 parking spaces and said it was “not sensible” to “cram 5,000 patients into the Solva building”, which already has 2,146.

Additionally, Solva Surgery currently has no partners and is managed by Hywel Dda University Health Board.

The health board said the remaining patients would be transferred to other practices in Haverfordwest and Fishguard.

The possibility of purchasing the building as a community was discussed and it was reported at the meeting that a recent valuation showed the building was worth £520,000.

Dr Richard Hayward says moving patients to Solva is ‘reckless’, especially as winter approaches (BBC)

Campaigner Sarah Foster said it would be possible to raise the required amount, comparing the venture to the community’s recent purchase of Bethlehem Chapel in Newport.

Simon Plant, another local resident, added: “The only way to protect this is community ownership.”

The campaign group has contacted the Welsh Government about the appeal.

The Welsh Government said: “Health boards have established procedures to manage proposed changes to local service delivery which follow Welsh Government guidance.”

Hywel Dda University Health Board said work was continuing to establish a surgical branch at St David’s which would provide nurse-led services for part of the week for patients transferring to the Solva practice.