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Patients fight for smallest city's only GP surgery

BBC campaigners in the streets with bannersBBC
The lone GP will stop providing services at the end of October

Hundreds of campaigners have taken to the streets of the UK's smallest city to launch their fight to save its only GP surgery.

There are about 2,700 patients registered at the surgery in St Davids in Pembrokeshire, but the lone GP has decided to resign the General Medical Services Contract and is due to stop providing services at the end of October.

Hywel Dda University Health Board said it was committed to finding a "sustainable solution".

Hundreds of people are expected to attend a drop-in event at the City Hall later on Friday.

St Davids Surgery is the fourth to hand back its contract in the Hywel Dda area since 2022.

Solva Surgery, which is just three miles away, also relinquished its contract in March 2023. That practice has about 2,145 patients, according to the health board's latest figures.

It is currently staffed by salaried GPs and locum doctors and run by the health board.

Jill Paterson, director of primary care, community and long term care at Hywel Dda, said a resolution is being sought.

GP surgery protest by pupils from St Davids
School pupils from the area also turned out in protest

She said: “We would like to reassure patients of St Davids GP Surgery that we are working to find a sustainable solution for the provision of services following the resignation of the General Medical Services contract, which comes to an end in October.

“We are keen to hear from as many patients as possible about those things which matter most in terms of such an important service in the area.

"There are a number of ways that patients who are registered with St Davids Surgery can have their say on the future of services, including the drop-in event at St Davids City Hall," Ms Paterson added.