LOCAL councillors are disappointed at the lack of doctors and nurses in Carmarthenshire and are urging the health board to do all they can to keep GP services in the Gwendraeth Valley.

The comments come from Plaid Cymru councillors – including the leader of Carmarthenshire County Council, Cllr Darren Price – after news that the Cross Hands and Tumble GP surgery could close.

Earlier this year, the GP partners of Cross Hands and Tumble Surgery made the decision to hand back their General Medical Services contract to Hywel Dda University Health Board after they were unable to recruit new GPs following a resignation.

Mr Price and Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen – who both represent the Gorslas ward – and Cllr Llinos Davies who represents the Llannon ward are concerned about the future of GP care in the area, as are their residents.

The councillors said in a joint statement: “This is a very worrying and distressing time for our residents who are patients of these two surgeries.

“As elected members of Carmarthenshire County Council, representing the residents of Gorslas ward and Llannon ward, we feel that it is vitally important that the health board makes every effort to find another provider so that these services continue to be available in our community.

“We are aware that the health board is currently consulting with members of the local community on this matter, and we are grateful for the public engagement events that have recently been held at Tumble and Cross Hands.

“The lack of medical staff is something that we see across the county with hospitals and GP practices struggling to fill vacancies. Plaid Cymru has been calling for a number of years on the Labour Welsh Government to improve workforce planning and deliver a sufficient number of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals.

“The failure to train enough medical practitioners is now having a very real impact on areas such as Llannon and Gorslas as patients find themselves in the awful position of seeing their GP surgery handing back their contract.

“We appreciate the efforts that are going in to find a solution to this complex situation, and are hopeful that the health board will be able to allay fears locally as soon as possible.”

Care at the Cross Hands and Tumble Surgery will continue as normal until the end of March 2024. Patients are urged to remain registered with the surgery whilst longer-term plans are being developed.