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Holyhead: Doctors' surgery could have no GPs by April

BBC Hwb Iechyd CaergybiBBC
Hwb Iechyd Cybi in Holyhead could be left with no GPs

Doctors at a health centre have warned that urgent action is needed or it will be have no GPs by the end of April.

Three of the seven doctors at Hwb Iechyd Cybi in Holyhead, Anglesey, are due to go on maternity leave and three more are leaving for other jobs.

Betsi Cadwaladr health board, which runs the centre, said it had already started looking for new doctors to cover the shortfall.

One of the doctors said they were "deeply concerned" about the issue.

Hwb Iechyd Cybi was set up after a shortage of doctors in the town in 2019.

Two of the town's three surgeries lost so many doctors, the practices came under the direct management of the health board, rather than being stand-alone.

Now doctors at Hwb Iechyd Cybi are warning that patients may once again be left without enough GPs.

A letter written by one GP, seen by the BBC, said: "I am deeply concerned about the direct impact of this situation on the health of almost 10,000 residents of Anglesey.

"I am also worried about the workload and health of my fellow doctors and about my own health."

In the letter, the doctor said things had been improving, but it was "heartbreaking" it was now getting worse.

"The situation at the hub shows a clear lack of planning, decision-making and communication on the part of the health board," it added.

Ffion Johnstone
Ffion Johnstone from Betsi Cadwaladr said the health board was advertising for additional GPs

Rhun ap Iorwerth, Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd for Anglesey, said a plan needed to be put in place to appoint doctors without delay.

"Staff are under unsustainable pressure, and the truth is that the health board have had enough time to prepare for this," he added.

Betsi Cadwaladr's west integrated health community director, Ffion Johnstone, said the health board was advertising for additional GP cover and "taking proposals forward to recruit more permanently to bolster the practice's resilience".

The Welsh government said health boards were responsible for ensuring access to primary care services and 175 trainee GPs had been recruited in 2022.

A spokesman added: "Steps have also been taken to reduce demand on GPs including investment in urgent primary care centres and the 111 Press 2 for mental health service."