Angry patients fighting the re-location of their village surgery to a site two miles away gathered today (MAY 14) to protest the plans. Around 100 people carrying banners marched from Pentyrch to Rhydlarfar to show how impractical it is.
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board wants to move Pentyrch Surgery to ground just off Llantrisant Road at Rhydlafar. The site is connected to Pentyrch by that busy main road or Church Road, a narrow country road without pavements, lighting or a bus service.
More than 1,600 residents have already signed a petition against the relocation. Locals say the health board did not adequately consult them on the plans, a claim strongly refuted by the health board.
Read more: The rural Welsh village about to lose its last GP surgery
Mike Colley from campaign group Pentyrch Save Our Surgery and Pharmacy, who organised the march, said the protest was not against a new surgery being built, but the location and process. If the move goes ahead villagers will also lose their local pharmacy and no longer be able to walk to their local GP.
He said the plans also go against Cardiff Council’s aim for amenities to be within a 15 minute walk or public transport ride.
“Rhydlafar is a village two miles away and inaccessible to all reliant on public transport to access basic health care services,” Mr Colley said.
“The closure of the surgery will lead to the closure of Pentyrch Pharmacy so doubling the damage to even more residents of Pentyrch and surrounding villages
“The continued abuse of the funding criteria for a new Pentyrch Surgery, and arrogance of the health board in ignoring their legal obligations to involve local people in the provision of their health care services, has caused this next stage of action.
“The NHS (Wales) Act 2006 and related guidance issued by the Welsh Government requires local health boards to engage and consult citizens from the outset and throughout the process on matters such as Pentyrch Surgery.”
Addressing protesters at the march the three Cardiff Council ward councillors for Pentyrch and St Fagans - Conservative Catriona Reckless-Brown and Plaid Cymru’s Rhys Livsey and Andrea Gibson -said the site was wrong and they would support their opposition. They said the vast housing programme in the area had not been adequately supported by amenities and needs of surrounding villages had not been considered.
“As councillors we are not satisfied with answers we have got from the health board. Our job now is to push things forward for you,” said Cllr Gibson.
For many of those gathered at the site it was the first time in their lives they had protested or been on a march. But they said feelings were running high and they felt they were not being listened to.
Eileen Boddington, 80, estimated it would take her two hours to walk the two miles there and back up a steep hill to the surgery: “It’s a complete farce. There is no bus service and only one taxi.
“The only other way is to drive, but what about people who don’t have cars?
“In 2017 the then Health Minister Vaughan Gething ring fenced money for a new Pentyrch surgery - this site is not Pentyrch, it is two miles away in Rhydlafar.”
Guy Wilson said he had come to show his opposition and hoped the health board would now take notice: “It is just ridiculous. The mood in the village is severe disappointment with the way this is being done.
“This surgery is being built for the new houses, not for Pentyrch.”
Electrician Peter Brown said the access off Llantrisant Road was also dangerous at a busy junction. He said putting a GP surgery on the site was “a death waiting to happen”.
“There are always accidents at this junction. If people come the other way from Pentyrch down Church Road it’s too far to walk.”
Dawn Fackrell, 59, a widw and full time carer for her disabled 28 year old son, said she would have to consider moving if they could no longer walk to the GP and pharmacy, both of which they have to use regularly.
“My son has severe epilepsy, autism, learning difficulties and is at risk from sudden death syndrome. He goes to the GP and pharmacy for prescriptions every three weeks - he has no choice.
“At the moment it is a five minute walk. If they moved the surgery he cannot get a bus.
“I don’t want to move but am in a dilemma. They are putting up barriers to people accessing their GP.
Her son Tomos Fakrell sent a written letter of protest as he could not attend. In the letter he said: "This isn't relocation. This is closing our surgery. There is no dafe and viable route to the new surgery.
"Public transport made me laugh. Ask anyone in Pentyrch what the poor excuse for a bus service we have.
"We have a strong community here and the doctors and pharmacy are an integral part of that. Being able to walk to them is crucial."
Roma Beard, 73, said many villagers first heard of the plans when people started talking about them on Facebook, she said she had not been consulted, despite being a patient and a living in Pentyrch.
“This is the first time I have been to a protest. I feel very strongly.
“They are destroying the village. It is crazy not to have a local surgeryu and GP that we can walk to.”
Cardiff and Vale Health Board responds
In a strongly worded response Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said it had fulfilled all legal obligations to consult.
A spokesperson 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.
“It is important to emphasise that during the engagement process the views of the Pentyrch Save our Surgery and Pharmacy Group were heard, but there was significant support from the residents of Pentyrch and Rhydlafar who welcomed a brand-new, clinical environment that provides access to enhanced clinical, primary care and community facilitates 2 miles from the current premises.
“The health board is continuing to work with patients and community representatives, such as the Llais, 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 goodwill and ongoing community relationships we accepted a petition from the Pentyrch Save our Surgery and Pharmacy group, and this was noted by the quality, safety and experience committee of the health board.
“As an organisation, we are committed to providing quality services that meet the needs of thee local population.”
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