#cllr-alex-evans — Public Fediverse posts

PONTYATES: Meddygfa’r Sarn would become a branch of Kidwelly surgery under health board merger plan

Meddygfa’r Sarn would merge with Meddygfa Minafon in Kidwelly and carry on in Pontyates as a branch surgery, under new health board plans.

Hywel Dda University Health Board announced the proposal on Friday. It comes after nobody bid to run the surgery.

Patients, staff and residents will be asked for their views over four weeks, from Monday 2 November to Sunday 29 November.

The health board says no final decision has been made. A report is due to go to the board early in 2027, with any new arrangement starting from 1 April 2027.

What the Meddygfa’r Sarn merger would mean for Pontyates patients

Under the plan, Minafon would run the Pontyates surgery as a branch, alongside its existing branch surgery in Trimsaran. Staff would be shared across all three sites.

The health board says this would support “a more sustainable model for GP services” while keeping local access in Pontyates.

The engagement will also ask what services the Pontyates branch should offer and when it should open. Those details have not been set out yet.

Like Meddygfa’r Sarn, Minafon is run directly by the health board rather than by its own GP partners.

Meddygfa’r Sarn in Pontyates, which would become a branch of Meddygfa Minafon under the plan. (Image: Google Maps)

Andrew Carruthers: “No final decision has been made”

Andrew Carruthers, the health board’s chief operating officer, said: “We heard clearly how important it is to the community to retain access to GP services locally in Pontyates.”

He said the engagement would help “inform the detailed arrangements for how services could operate in future”.

He added: “No final decision has been made. The Health Board will consider feedback from this next phase of engagement, and I would encourage people to take part when it opens and share their views on the recommendation.”

Details of how to take part will be published when the engagement opens, the health board says.

Not one bid to run Meddygfa’r Sarn

The tender opened in July. It followed the board’s decision in May to explore whether a new or existing GP provider could take over instead of closing the surgery.

Hywel Dda told its September board meeting it was “disappointed that no bids were received through the formal tender process”. The tender closed on 7 September, according to the area’s county councillors.

The merger was recommended by the health board’s Vacant Practice Panel. In January, it was a Vacant Practice Panel that recommended dispersing Sarn’s patients to other practices.

At that time, the panel said a merger with Minafon would create a practice of around 13,000 patients across several sites, which it felt would bring its own problems.

Hywel Dda University Health Board’s meeting in May, when it agreed to look for a new provider for the surgery. (Image: Papur y Cwm)

Councillors and campaigners had called for a Minafon link

Earlier on Friday, before the announcement, Plaid Cymru county councillors Tyssul Evans, Meinir James and Alex Evans called for closer working with Minafon to be properly considered. They also called for Sarn to be kept as a managed practice, with permanent GPs recruited directly by the health board.

The councillors say Minafon has more than 8,500 patients but only one permanent GP.

They warned that the failed tender “cannot become the justification for treating closure as the best option”.

They also say they waited almost two months for a reply to concerns raised in August, while the tender was open, and that it did not answer their questions.

The Save Sarn Surgery Community Working Group had suggested merging or jointly running Sarn with Kidwelly’s surgery while keeping a GP service in the village.

The group also questioned the staffing figures given to bidders. “We have reason to believe these figures may not accurately reflect the staff actually working at Sarn Surgery,” it said.

Asked about the group’s concerns, Hywel Dda did not address the staffing figures given to bidders directly.

Mr Carruthers said the search for a new provider “was fully explored but did not result in any bids being received”.

He said that if the merger goes ahead, “workforce requirements, service provision and capacity across the combined practice arrangements will be assessed and developed to ensure patients continue to have access to safe and effective GP services”.

Patient numbers, capacity and future staffing arrangements will be presented to the board before any final decision is made, he said.

The group said: “All we are asking for is a sustainable GP service here in Pontyates.”

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

PONTYATES: ‘Spread the word’: campaigners urge GP teams to bid for Meddygfa’r Sarn as tender opens
July’s call for GP teams to bid.

PONTYATES: Health board agrees to explore independent GPs for Meddygfa’r Sarn in major U-turn
May’s change of course, after four months of campaigning.

Future of Pontyates GP surgery in doubt as health board considers dispersing all 4,300 patients
January’s closure recommendation.

All our Meddygfa’r Sarn coverage
The full story of the fight for the village surgery.

#CllrAlexEvans #CllrMeinirJames #CllrTyssulEvans #GPRecruitment #GPSurgeryClosure #HywelDdaUniversityHealthBoard #MeddygfaRSarn #Pontyates #PontyatesDoctorsSurgery

PONTYBEREM: Bus changes take effect Monday for six-week road closure — the full temporary timetable including the new 195A

The full temporary bus timetable for Monday’s six-week closure of Capel Ifan Road has been published — including when the new 195A shuttle runs and exactly when the 197 will call in Ponthenri.

The B4317 at Pontyberem shuts from Monday 20 July until 31 August, while Carmarthenshire Council installs permanent traffic signals on the embankment stretch that slipped and has been running on temporary lights.

No direct bus can run between Pontyberem and Ponthenri during the works — the change that caused most concern when the closure was announced, given how many residents rely on the link for the surgery, the pharmacy and the nearest post office.

But the published arrangements soften the blow: every affected village keeps a bus, and Ponthenri keeps a direct link to both Llanelli and Carmarthen.

Service 195 will run between Llanelli and Carmarthen at its usual times, but via Llannon instead of Ponthenri and Five Roads.

Service 197 will also keep its usual times — and will additionally call in Ponthenri seven times a day in each direction.

Buses from Carmarthen to Llanelli will stop in Ponthenri at 7.25am, 8.55am, 10.55am, 12.55pm, 2.55pm, 4.55pm and 6.46pm.

Buses from Llanelli to Carmarthen will call at 7.50am, 10.01am, 12.01pm, 2.01pm, 4.01pm, 6pm and 6.58pm.

The new temporary 195A, run by First Cymru, will operate Monday to Saturday between Llanelli and Ponthenri, via Five Roads and Pontiets.

It also provides connections in Pontiets with services covering Maengwynne, Five Roads and Cynheidre.

195A — Llanelli to Ponthenri

Parc Trostre (shelter)09:1511:1513:1515:1517:1518:30Llanelli bus station09:2311:2313:2315:2317:2318:38Five Roads (square)09:3411:3413:3015:3017:3018:45Pontiets (Gwendraeth)09:4011:4013:3615:3617:3618:51Ponthenri (Heol y Pentre)09:4411:4413:4015:4017:4018:55

195A — Ponthenri to Llanelli

Ponthenri (Heol y Pentre)07:4709:4711:4713:4715:4717:47Pontiets (Gwendraeth)07:5109:5011:5013:5015:5017:50Five Roads (square)07:5809:5711:5713:5715:5717:57Llanelli bus station08:1010:0912:0914:0916:0918:08Parc Trostre (shelter)08:1710:1612:1614:1616:1618:15

For drivers, the signed diversion runs via the B4306, B4309 and B4317, with access to properties maintained on foot and by vehicle throughout.

Local county councillor Alex Evans had pressed the council over how bus routes and timetables would be affected, after warning the closure would have a significant impact on people living nearby.

Residents had also raised concerns about back roads between Ponthenri, Meinciau and Pontyberem taking the strain, and about longer journeys for carers and commuters heading to Llanelli and Swansea.

The new signals are the permanent fix for the narrowed single-lane section south-west of the Heol y Parc junction, where the roadside embankment slipped.

The works are due to run until 31 August, with full details of the temporary services available from First Cymru.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

PONTYBEREM: Six weeks of roadworks to close Capel Ifan Road — and cut the village’s direct bus to Ponthenri
How the closure was announced — and why the bus link mattered most.

PONTYATES: The four-month fight to save Meddygfa’r Sarn
The campaign to keep GP services in the villages these buses serve.

NEATH PORT TALBOT: Safer routes to schools, stations and parks — the walking and cycling plans for your area
The active travel changes planned across the neighbouring county.

#20mph #CarmarthenshireCouncil #CllrAlexEvans #FirstCymru #Ponthenri #Pontyberem #roadClosure

PONTYBEREM: Six weeks of roadworks to close Capel Ifan Road — and cut the village’s direct bus to Ponthenri

A busy Pontyberem road will close for six weeks from Monday 20 July, and the change villagers will feel first is not the diversion — it is the loss of their direct bus to Ponthenri.

Carmarthenshire County Council is shutting the B4317 Capel Ifan Road to install permanent traffic signals, with the closure running from 20 July for six weeks.

The signals are going in on the narrow embankment stretch south-west of the Heol y Parc junction — the same section that has been down to a single lane on temporary lights since the roadside embankment slipped, the fault the new signals are intended to manage.

The temporary lights seen from the opposite approach, with the closure due to last six weeks.

For drivers, a fully signed diversion will run via the B4306, the B4309 and the B4317, and back the same way. Access to individual properties, on foot and by vehicle, will be kept open throughout.

But it is the bus changes that will reshape daily journeys, and they are more far-reaching than the road closure alone.

For six weeks it will not be possible to run a direct bus between Pontyberem and Ponthenri — a link residents rely on for the doctor’s surgery, the pharmacy and the nearest post office.

To fill the gap, First Cymru is introducing a temporary service, the 195A, connecting Pontiets with Maengwynne, Five Roads and Cynheidre.

A separate 195A shuttle will run between Llanelli and Pontiets via Five Roads, giving the wider area a route around the closure.

The main 195 will keep running between Llanelli and Carmarthen, serving Pontyberem and Llannon along the way.

The 197, meanwhile, will divert via Ponthenri for the duration of the works.

The B4317 fingerpost pointing towards Cwm-Mawr, Llannon, Pontiets and Pontyates.

Local county councillor Alex Evans said he had raised the disruption with the council and asked how bus routes and timetables would be affected across the six weeks.

Writing to residents, he said he understood the closure by the temporary traffic lights would have a significant impact on people living nearby, and that he had flagged the bus issue with the authority, which had in turn contacted First.

Residents have already voiced concern about the knock-on effects, warning that back roads between Ponthenri, Meinciau and Pontyberem — some already busier since drivers began avoiding the 20mph limit through Pontiets — will take the strain.

The narrowed embankment stretch where the carriageway has been reduced to a single lane.

Others have pointed to the impact on carers, commuters and emergency access, with some facing considerably longer journeys to work in Llanelli and Swansea while the road is shut.

The work is part of a wider pattern of embankment and highway repairs across rural Carmarthenshire, where slipped verges and unstable slopes have forced a run of temporary closures over the past year.

Anyone travelling through the area from 20 July should follow the signed diversion and allow extra time, particularly at peak hours when the single alternative routes are likely to be busiest.

Full details of the temporary bus arrangements are available from First Cymru, and the council has said property access will be maintained throughout the closure.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

PONTYATES: The four-month fight to save Meddygfa’r Sarn
The long-running campaign to keep GP services in the villages around Pontyberem.

#20mph #CarmarthenshireCouncil #CllrAlexEvans #FirstCymru #Pontyberem #roadClosure

Council demands action on Pontyates surgery closure as councillors warn of “predetermined outcome”

The motion, proposed by Plaid Cymru councillors Alex Evans and Tyssul Evans and passed at today’s full Carmarthenshire County Council meeting, calls on both Welsh Government and Hywel Dda to explain why closure has been identified as the “preferred option” before full community consultation has taken place.

The debate saw 11 councillors speak, with powerful criticisms of the health board’s engagement process and warnings that neighbouring GP surgeries are already operating “beyond full capacity” and cannot absorb thousands more patients.

Cllr Alex Evans told the chamber that Hywel Dda had informed local councillors the current engagement “will not consider alternatives to closure, only the impact the closure would have.”

“That is not engagement on securing the future of a service, that is an engagement on managing its loss,” he said. “If an engagement does not consider an alternative, it inevitably creates the impression that the outcome has already been decided.”

He warned that relocating thousands of patients to already stretched practices “will not remove pressure from the system, it just redistributes it.”

“Our communities should not have to suffer the consequences of a national failure of government to train, recruit and retain GPs,” Cllr Evans said, noting that around 100 GP surgeries have closed in Wales since 2012 whilst GP numbers have barely increased since 2008.

“Closure must be the last option, not the easiest one,” he concluded.

Public transport nightmare

Cllr Tyssul Evans highlighted the absurdity of public transport options for patients without cars, revealing that whilst Pontyates and Kidwelly are less than six miles apart by direct route, patients relying on buses would face a 15-mile journey one way via Llanelli, or a 20-mile journey via Carmarthen.

“This means a six-mile journey becomes either a 30-mile or 40-mile round trip for elderly, disabled, or vulnerable patients needing regular appointments,” he said.

Cross-community solidarity

Cllr Liam Bowen, representing Pontyberem, said the manager of Colebrook Surgery in his village was supporting the campaign to save Meddygfa’r Sarn, despite the practice being prepared to take displaced patients if necessary.

He revealed that Colebrook already has over 5,000 registered patients, and local people are concerned that adding thousands more following the closure of Tumble Surgery and potentially Pontyates would lead to unacceptable waiting times.

“The residents of Pontyberem are standing firmly with the residents of Pontyates,” Cllr Bowen said. “Closing Sarn surgery is another example of care services being taken out of our rural communities.”

Pattern of failed consultations

Independent councillor Sean Rees delivered a devastating critique of Hywel Dda’s consultation processes, listing multiple examples where community engagement had failed to meaningfully consider alternatives.

“Local GP surgeries are not simply just buildings where appointments take place, they are the front door to our national health service,” he said.

Cllr Rees said he had spoken to many Llanelli-based GP practices, and many were already operating “at full capacity, and many would say they are beyond that.”

“Appointment books are filled within minutes. Patients speak of repeated attempts to try and get through on the phone at 8am in the morning,” he said.

“To simply suggest that thousands more patients can be absorbed into a system without any consequence at all is just simply not credible.”

He cited failures in consultations over the minor injuries unit at Prince Philip Hospital, last week’s clinical services plan outcomes, the relocation of the Dyfed Drug and Alcohol service, and ongoing questions regarding blood testing services that were due to move to Pentre Awel last year but remain unresolved.

“When these commitments are made and when timelines slip without clear explanation, confidence erodes and trust weakens,” Cllr Rees said.

“If a board’s report has already identified closure as a preferred option before any full community consultation, then it is absolutely entirely understandable that the residents will fear that the outcomes are predetermined. That undermines trust and once that public trust is damaged it is extremely difficult to rebuild. We simply cannot allow this pattern to continue.”

Housing growth contradicts closure

Cllr Steve Williams questioned how the closure could be justified when new housing is being built in the area and the population is rising.

“What is the Senedd doing to ensure that primary care is available to those that need it the most?” he asked, demanding Welsh Government oversight on healthcare planning.

Community protest

Cllr Meinir James noted that over 200 local residents and councillors had formed a human chain around the surgery on Monday in a “Cwtsh or Sarn” solidarity event, following a petition that has gathered over 1,000 signatures.

Impact on neighbouring surgeries

The motion highlighted that if Meddygfa’r Sarn closes, Colebrook Surgery in Pontyberem would receive an extra 3,000 patients – a 60 per cent increase – taking its total to 8,000, whilst Minafon in Kidwelly would gain 1,000 extra patients, taking it to over 9,000.

National workforce crisis

Cllr Evans told councillors that according to Llais, 91 per cent of GPs say they cannot meet patient demand in Wales, and BMA Cymru has warned of a GP workforce crisis, with alarmingly over 10 per cent of GPs under 40 leaving the workforce in 2023.

He said Welsh Government is spending a “record low 6 per cent of the budget on Primary Care” at a time when services are being reduced not because they are no longer needed, but because the workforce is not there.

Minor dissent

Two councillors raised concerns about the motion’s tone. Cllr Michael Thomas claimed it was “too negative” and didn’t outline alternatives, whilst Cllr Martyn Palfreyman criticised what he called “partisan comments” from Cllr Alex Evans in blaming Welsh Government.

Cllr Evans disputed the partisan claim, saying he had not mentioned any political parties and that the opposition Labour group had not submitted any amendments to the motion despite having the opportunity to do so.

What the motion demands

The motion calls on Welsh Government to explain what steps are being taken to prevent GP surgery closures across Wales and to ensure that alternatives to closure are genuinely considered in all cases.

It demands that Hywel Dda University Health Board publish its Health Impact Assessment and Equality Impact Assessment, explain why closure was identified as the preferred option before full consultation, and publish its assessment of all alternatives to closure.

The motion was passed following the debate.

#CarmarthenshireCouncil #CarmarthenshireCountyCouncil #CllrAlexEvans #CllrLiamBowen #CllrMeinirJames #CllrSeanRees #CllrSteveWilliams #CllrTyssulEvans #GPSurgery #GPSurgeryClosure #HywelDdaUniversityHealthBoard #Kidwelly #MeddygfaRSarn #Pontyates #Pontyberem

Political battle erupts as Llanelli Rural Council approves 8% council tax rise – bringing three-year increase to 47%

The decision will affect residents across communities outside Llanelli town centre, including Llwynhendy, Pemberton, Five Roads, Bynea, Dafen, Felinfoel, Swiss Valley, and Glyn.

Opposition councillors from Plaid Cymru and Independent groups condemned the decision, warning it will place a further burden on households during the ongoing cost of living crisis, following an “eye-watering” 32% increase last year.

But Council Leader Cllr Rob Evans hit back, claiming the opposition councillors themselves were responsible for driving up the precept by insisting on ward-specific projects – and accused them of hypocrisy for criticising allowances while earning approximately £20,000 per year as County Councillors.

Cllr Alex Evans, Leader of the Opposition, said the decision shows “the administration is out of touch with the priorities of ordinary residents.”

“People are already struggling to get by. Forcing them to pay almost 50% more in council tax than just three years ago is just not on — that is why we had to vote against the proposed budget tonight. Residents are being asked to pay more while council leaders spend on luxuries,” he said.

Opposition councillors also criticised continued spending on councillor attendance payments, along with a leased car and chauffeur to escort the Chair of Council to events. An optional attendance payment allows councillors to claim £15 for each meeting they attend, with several meetings lasting less than 10 minutes in 2025, and the shortest lasting only three minutes.

“Opposition councillors and residents will rightly question the judgement and priorities of Labour councillors after refusing to scrap attendance payments and return the leased car,” Cllr Evans added.

Llanelli Rural Council offices on Vauxhall in Llanelli town centre, where councillors approved an 8% council tax rise bringing the three-year increase to 47%. Image: Google Maps/Llanelli Rural Council

Opposition councillors contrasted the move with neighbouring Llanelli Town Council which voted to freeze its tax.

The council has since moved from being Labour-run to a new Independent administration and has committed to scrapping councillor payments.

Cllr Sharen Davies, Independent member who also voted against the budget, challenged the administration’s claim that the tax rise was driven in part by the Canolfan Llwynhendy project.

“This development has been funded largely through grants and partner support. It should not be used as a smokescreen to justify excessive tax rises. Llwynhendy residents deserve investment and improvements in our community,” she said.

“This tax hike is completely unacceptable and will put serious financial pressure on our residents. Labour must rethink this further tax increase and start cutting back on unnecessary luxuries.”

However, Council Leader Cllr Rob Evans strongly rejected the criticism, pointing out that the Council’s administration is a coalition of Labour, Independent, and Plaid Cymru members – not a solely Labour-led authority.

He said the current Council has inherited a significant backlog of issues from the previous administration’s “lack of foresight” when adopting numerous new projects and asset transfers.

Cllr Evans explained that last year’s 32% increase was driven by unavoidable commitments, including £107,000 required in the Llwynhendy/Pemberton Ward to complete the new Canolfan Llwynhendy build and to fund unexpected drainage works at Gwili Fields in Cllr Sharen Davies’s ward, recruitment of additional staff to support growing community facilities, and replacement of a grounds maintenance vehicle.

He said this year’s 8% rise primarily reflects investment in Plaid Cymru and Independent wards, including £40,000 for refurbishing a play area for the Five Roads/Glyn Ward – Cllr Alex Evans’s ward – and further investment in Canolfan Llwynhendy.

“It is important to note that had Councillors Alex Evans and Sharen Davies not insisted on these additional ward-specific projects, this year’s rise would have been closer to the general cost of living and would have eased financial pressure on local households. For a Band D property, the increase equates to 28 pence per week,” Cllr Evans said.

On the Chairperson’s car, he said the Council continues to maintain a car and driver because the Chair must represent the Council at numerous civic events across the community, and not all Chairpersons are able to drive. “This support ensures the Chair can fulfil the role effectively and inclusively,” he added.

Regarding councillor allowances, Cllr Evans said Llanelli Rural Council is one of the largest and most ambitious town and community councils in Wales, and as a result, councillors face increasing demand on their time to meet governance and regulatory requirements.

“The role is no longer entirely voluntary in practice. Members dedicate substantial time to reading agendas, reports, and background papers, in addition to attending meetings. The meeting allowance ensures councillors are not out of pocket for fulfilling their duties,” he said.

He added:

“It must also be acknowledged that the councillors quoted in the opposition press release are themselves County Councillors. County Councillors receive a basic salary of approximately £20,000 per year, and for context this is more than the rural council’s entire budget.”

The council’s administration said it remains committed to transparency, responsible financial management, and ensuring that all communities within the Council area benefit from sustained investment and high quality services.

#Bynea #CllrAlexEvans #CllrRobEvans #CllrSharenDavies #Dafen #Felinfoel #FiveRoads #Glyn #IndependentPoliticians #Llanelli #LlanelliRuralCouncil #Llangennech #Llwynhendy #Pemberton #PlaidCymru #SwissValley #WelshLabour

Councillors say they’ve “lost all confidence” in Health Board’s process over Pontyates surgery closure

The three councillors — Tyssul Evans, Meinir James and Alex Evans — issued a joint statement after an online engagement session held by Hywel Dda earlier this week. They say the meeting raised “deeply troubling” concerns about how the Health Board is handling the eight‑week engagement exercise, which began on 9 February.

According to the councillors, Health Board officials confirmed that the engagement will not consider alternatives to closure and will instead focus solely on the impact that shutting the surgery would have on local communities. They say this makes the process fundamentally flawed.

The councillors also say Hywel Dda admitted it has not attempted to recruit a salaried GP for over a year, and would not commit to making a further attempt before the Board meets in May to decide the surgery’s future.

They claim a senior officer told them that Health Board policies do not require community engagement at all, and that a decision to close the surgery could have been taken at the January Board meeting without any public involvement.

Concerns were also raised about the number and timing of in‑person drop‑in sessions, with councillors saying several affected villages have been excluded and that no evening sessions have been arranged. They say some residents may receive notification only a week before the first session takes place.

In their joint statement, the councillors said the meeting had left them with “no alternative” but to go public.

“Following the answers given and the attitudes displayed by Hywel Dda representatives during the online engagement session held on Monday evening for local councillors, we have lost all confidence in this engagement exercise,” they said.

“Learning that alternatives to closure will not be considered as part of the engagement was, in our view, the final straw. Given that the Health Board has already had to publicly apologise to our communities for how this proposal was first announced, we expected a far greater level of care to be taken to ensure that this process was fair, open and credible.”

They added that while they continue to urge residents to take part in the engagement, they now believe a separate, full public consultation with independent oversight will be required if the future of the surgery is to be decided “fairly and transparently”.

The councillors’ intervention marks a significant escalation in the row over the future of Meddygfa’r Sarn, which serves around 4,300 patients. Swansea Bay News has previously reported on the community backlash, calls for a halt to closure plans, and warnings that dispersing patients across neighbouring practices could leave residents facing long journeys and reduced access to care.

Responding to the councillors comments, Andrew Carruthers, Chief Operating Officer at Hywel Dda University Health Board, said:

“We recognise the vital role that GPs play in supporting the health and wellbeing of individuals, families and communities, and we understand the strength of feeling locally about Meddygfa’r Sarn.

“We also recognise that some people have raised concerns about trust in the engagement and decision making process. I want to reassure residents, patients and elected representatives that no decision has been reached about the future of the practice.

“At our January meeting, the Board agreed to an eight‑week period of engagement to help us better understand the potential impacts of the Vacant Practice Panel’s recommendation and to hear directly from the communities affected. This approach is in line with Welsh Government guidance on consultation and engagement.

“The recommendation was made by the Vacant Practice Panel because of ongoing challenges in sustaining the practice, including difficulties in securing long‑term clinical cover, and the need to ensure safe, consistent and high‑quality care for patients.”

Mr Carruthers added:

“We welcomed the opportunity to meet with local councillors earlier this week and we value their involvement and challenge as part of this process.

“We know that confidence in engagement is built through listening and openness, and over the coming weeks we are committed to hearing carefully what people tell us, including concerns, experiences and what the potential benefits and impacts could be should Meddygfa’r Sarn’s patients be dispersed to other practices locally.

“We will ensure that the feedback received is fully and fairly considered by the Board at its meeting in May. The purpose of this engagement is to inform our understanding before any decision is taken, and we encourage residents and stakeholders to take part so their voices shape the discussion.”

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Eight‑week consultation launched on Pontyates surgery
Hywel Dda began its engagement exercise as residents warned the closure would hit vulnerable patients hardest.

Pontyates surgery gets temporary lifeline
The Health Board delayed its decision after mounting pressure from patients and community leaders.

Councillors demand halt to closure plans
Local representatives urged Hywel Dda to pause the process amid concerns over transparency and fairness.

Community backlash grows over proposed closure
Residents warned losing the surgery would be a “massive blow” to Pontyates and surrounding villages.

Future of Pontyates surgery in doubt
Hywel Dda considered dispersing all 4,300 patients to neighbouring practices.

#CllrAlexEvans #CllrMeinirJames #CllrTyssulEvans #GPSurgeryClosure #HywelDdaUniversityHealthBoard #MeddygfaRSarn #Pontyates #PontyatesDoctorsSurgery

Councillors demand halt to Pontyates GP surgery closure plans as pressure mounts on Hywel Dda

The intervention comes just five days after Swansea Bay News first revealed the surgery’s future was in doubt on 22 January, sparking immediate concern among residents and community leaders.

In a letter sent yesterday to the Chair and Chief Executive of Hywel Dda, Pontyates councillors Alex Evans, Tyssul Evans and Meinir James set out a series of objections to the proposal, which is due to go out to public consultation on 9 February.

They say the health board appears to have a “preferred option” of closure before the consultation has even begun, and warn that the impact on patients has not been properly assessed.

The councillors argue that forcing thousands of patients to register elsewhere would pile pressure onto already overstretched practices in Pontyberem, Kidwelly and surrounding communities. For many residents — particularly older people, disabled patients, carers and those without cars — reaching alternative surgeries would require taking two buses.

They have asked the health board to confirm whether an Equality Impact Assessment and Health Impact Assessment have been completed and published, and say no consultation should begin until this work is done.

The letter also calls for a pause to the process and “meaningful engagement” with the community on alternatives to closure. A written response has been requested as a matter of urgency.

Llanelli MP Dame Nia Griffith said she “very much shares patients’ concerns” and has asked health board bosses to attend a public meeting with residents as part of the consultation.

The fight to save the surgery comes as Pontyates faces another major battle over local services. Earlier this month, villagers secured a temporary stay of closure for Pontyates Primary School, but parents warned the reprieve was only the start of a longer campaign.

Residents say losing both the school and the GP surgery would hollow out the village and leave families without essential services.

With the consultation on Meddygfa’r Sarn due to open in early February, campaigners say the next few weeks will be crucial for the future of healthcare in the Gwendraeth Valley.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Future of Pontyates GP surgery in doubt as health board considers dispersing all 4,300 patients
Initial report revealing the threat to Meddygfa’r Sarn and the scale of the impact on local healthcare.

Community backlash grows as residents warn closure of Pontyates GP surgery would be a ‘massive blow’
Residents speak out as fears rise over losing the village’s only GP practice.

Pontyates villagers vow to continue fight to save school
The community secures a temporary stay of closure for the primary school but warns the battle isn’t over.

#CllrAlexEvans #CllrMeinirJames #CllrTyssulEvans #HywelDdaUniversityHealthBoard #MeddygfaRSarn #NiaGriffithMP #Pontiets #Pontyates #PontyatesDoctorsSurgery #YsgolPontiets

Community backlash grows as residents warn closure of Pontyates GP surgery would be “a massive blow”

The outcry follows Swansea Bay News’ report that Hywel Dda University Health Board is considering dispersing all 4,300 patients from Meddygfa’r Sarn to neighbouring practices from June 2026. Local councillors said they were “shocked” to learn of the proposal and had received no prior warning.

Councillors say they were blindsided by the announcement

Cllr Tyssul Evans and Cllr Meinir James, who both represent Llangyndeyrn Ward, and Cllr Alex Evans, who represents Glyn Ward, said they only discovered the proposal when the health board’s press release appeared on Facebook.

Cllr Tyssul Evans, Cllr Meinir James (Llangyndeyrn Ward) and Cllr Alex Evans (Glyn Ward) said:

“We were shocked to learn yesterday, via a press release shared on Facebook, of Hywel Dda University Health Board’s plans to consider closing Meddygfa’r Sarn GP surgery in Pontyates. We had no prior knowledge that the surgery was even at risk of closing and we fully appreciate the anxiety and concern this announcement will have caused for patients and residents.

“We understand the real concerns about how patients would be able to access GP care if the 4,300 patients registered in Pontyates were transferred to other surgeries in Pontyberem, Kidwelly and Llanelli. There is no direct bus route to Pontyberem for many patients registered at Meddygfa’r Sarn and there is no direct bus for anyone to Kidwelly. We also appreciate the potential knock‑on effect this could have on other local services in the village, including the chemist.

“We want to reassure everyone that we will do everything we can to save the surgery in Pontyates from closing. We will be launching a petition and outlining the further actions we propose to take in support of a campaign to save Meddygfa’r Sarn next week. We will be sure to keep you all fully updated as these details are finalised.”

Residents say closure would leave thousands cut off

Dozens of residents have now taken to social media to condemn the potential closure, describing the surgery as a lifeline for Pontyates and surrounding villages.

Many warned that neighbouring practices in Pontyberem, Kidwelly and Llanelli are already overstretched, with long waits for appointments and limited capacity.

Phillip Griffiths said the plan “makes no sense”, arguing that Pontyates Surgery is centrally located, has good parking and sits next to the village chemist. Others raised fears that the chemist itself could be at risk if the GP service disappears.

Kaye Hamer said many residents simply had no way of travelling to other surgeries. Jo Clarke warned the move would hit older patients hardest, saying it was “wrong” to expect people who have lived in the village all their lives to travel miles for care.

Lorraine Edwards said the proposal came “just when you think healthcare couldn’t get any worse”, while Andrew Williams said neighbouring practices already rely heavily on locum doctors, making continuity of care difficult.

Front view of Meddygfa’r Sarn in Pontyates, the GP surgery at the centre of proposals to disperse its patient list. Image: Google Maps.

Concerns over transport, capacity and impact on elderly patients

Residents repeatedly highlighted the lack of direct bus routes to Pontyberem and Kidwelly, with some journeys requiring multiple changes and taking hours.

Julie Harry said public transport was “absolutely non‑existent”, while Andrea Gower questioned how the health board expected patients to travel at all. She also disputed claims the site sits on a flood plain, saying she had “never seen the place flooded”.

Others warned the closure would be a “massive blow” to the village, particularly for elderly and vulnerable residents.

Lisa Evans‑James said her 93‑year‑old grandmother had relied on the surgery for decades and could not travel further afield. She said the practice offered continuity, familiarity and reassurance that could not be replaced by dispersing patients across multiple towns.

“This surgery isn’t just a building – it’s familiar faces, continuity of care, and reassurance,” she said. “To the health board we may just be numbers on a list, but behind every number is a person, a family, and a real need for accessible care.”

Petition launched as anger builds

A petition launched by local resident Clare Treharne has gathered more than 500 signatures in less than 24 hours. She warned that dispersing patients would mean longer travel distances, reduced continuity of care and increased pressure on already overstretched practices.

The petition calls on Hywel Dda to reject the proposal, consult properly with residents and commit to keeping GP services in Pontyates.

Health board urged to rethink

Many residents accused the health board of failing to understand the geography of the area or the realities of rural transport.

Helen Thomas said Pontyberem Surgery “can’t cope as it is”, while Ryan Hayhurst described the proposal as “outrageous”. Others warned the move would push more patients into already overstretched A&E departments.

Caroline Owens Green said the community “can’t sit back and let the health board push this through”, while Kerry Jane Hards said life would be “desperate” without the surgery.

Hywel Dda University Health Board has said no final decision has been made and that it will consider feedback before any recommendation is taken forward.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Future of Pontyates GP surgery in doubt
Health board confirms it is considering dispersing all 4,300 patients to neighbouring practices.

Petition: Save Meddygfa’r Sarn GP Surgery
More than 500 people sign within 24 hours as residents rally to protect local healthcare.

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