Patients at a GP surgery are facing "real hardship" as their surgery relocates two miles away. Patients of Pentyrch Surgery have put forward a petition to Cardiff and Vale University Health Board in response to the intended closure of the surgery. Some 1,612 locals have signed the petition and fear that the pharmacy will be the next closure.
The surgery will be replaced by another site two miles away at Rhydlafar – either a five-minute drive or 37-minute walk. The new site is connected to Pentyrch by Church Road, which residents have called a “narrow and unlit country road with no pavement". The health board has defended the plans saying there had a "robust and thorough engagement process".
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Local group Pentyrch Save Our Surgery & Pharmacy (PSOS&P) set up a petition criticising the Health Board’s “refusal to comply with its legal requirements to engage and consult with citizens prior to deciding to close Pentyrch Surgery and move it to Rhydlafar.
“There is an arrogance and complete lack of respect being shown by the Health Board. It is outrageous. I found out about the closure in 2020 when I read an announcement, the Health Board made no attempt to consult any citizens. If we had been consulted in the first place, none of this would be happening,” said Mike Colley, a representative for PSOS&P.
Roma Beard, who has lived in Pentyrch for 13 years, is in her 70s and relies on both the surgery and the pharmacy for monthly medication. She said: “I walk to the pharmacy to collect my medication so losing both these facilities will be a real hardship to me. The new surgery is not accessible on foot and there is no public transport available. Unless patients have a car, they would probably take a taxi and that is expensive and untenable for many households.”
For those wishing to take public transport from Pentyrch surgery to Rhydlafar, the route includes a 1.4 mile walk to Robin Hill, a 12-stop bus journey and a further four-minute walk to the new site.
Funding was put forward by the Welsh Government in 2017 to build a new surgery as Pentyrch surgery was considered not fit for purpose, too small and too cramped. But PSOS&P feels that the new surgery location is not what was promised.
“When funding was made available in 2017, the main criteria was to keep health services close to people in area. Moving our surgery two miles away where there is no access via public transport can hardly comply with those criteria. The distance and lack of consultation means people are angry. Our petition shows this. We will be stepping things up in the future, not just writing a letter,” said representative Mr Colley.
The petition will be presented to Cardiff and Vale University Health Board on Wednesday, March 29.
A spokeswoman for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said: "There has been a robust and thorough engagement process undertaken that was completed last year in relation to the relocation of Pentyrch Surgery. The Health Board has complied with the legislative requirements for engagement, and this has been independently reviewed and agreed at Ministerial level.
"The engagement process gained significant support from the community of Pentyrch and Rhydlafar to develop, improve and enhance primary care services and clinics at a brand-new, branch surgery, 2 miles from the current premises. The Health Board is continuing to work with patients and community representatives, such as the CHC, to ensure that as part of the relocation and new development, the transportation needs of local patients and residents are considered.
"The engagement process involved not only patients registered with the practice but also people living in the surrounding areas who will potentially use the new surgery. All views and observations received as part of the engagement have been taken into account and responded too accordingly.
"Despite the engagement process already reaching conclusion, as a gesture of community partnership, the Health Board has agreed to accept the petition. This will be reviewed by the Corporate Governance team, who will ensure it is noted and considered by one of the Committees of the Board. As an organisation, we are committed to providing quality services that meet the needs of the local population."
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