#hywelddauniversityhealthboard — Public Fediverse posts

PONTYATES: The four-month fight to save Meddygfa’r Sarn — and the questions Hywel Dda still hasn’t answered as the board prepares to vote

When members of Hywel Dda University Health Board gather at Yr Egin in Carmarthen at 9.30am on Thursday 28 May, they will not be asked to do what they were asked to do in January.

The Vacant Practice Panel’s original recommendation — that all 4,350 patients of Meddygfa’r Sarn in Pontyates be dispersed across neighbouring practices and the surgery closed — still exists. It has not been withdrawn. But thanks to four months of sustained campaign pressure and a string of damaging disclosures about the evidence base, the board will instead be asked to begin a procurement process to test whether an independent contractor will take on the GP contract.

It is a significant shift. But it is not a reprieve. If procurement fails to find a viable bidder, the original closure recommendation is still in the room.

The story that almost happened in silence

When Swansea Bay News first reported on 22 January that the future of Meddygfa’r Sarn was in doubt, the proposal to close the surgery had attracted no significant public attention. Most of the surgery’s patients had no idea their GP service was about to be dispersed.

Jane Nicholas, speaking on behalf of the Save Meddygfa’r Sarn Working Group, reflected this week that the closure could have gone ahead largely unnoticed had it not been for that initial report.

What followed has been one of the most sustained and detailed community campaigns this part of west Wales has seen in years. Patients launched petitions. Councillors demanded action. The board agreed an eight-week consultation. Lee Waters, then Llanelli MS, raised the alarm over fears the surgery was being wound down. The campaign petition to the Senedd passed 1,000 signatures in under three weeks — and patients formed a human chain around the surgery building in a ‘Cwtsho’r Sarn’ solidarity event, drawing hundreds of protestors.

What the board was told — and what the evidence showed

Through it all, the working group was doing something else: it was lodging Freedom of Information requests. And what those requests uncovered became the most uncomfortable part of the entire process for Hywel Dda.

The group’s 12-point analysis, published in May, set out a consistent pattern: a board that had been given a selective and incomplete picture before being asked to approve closure. The issue, the analysis concluded, was not that the information presented was false — it was that key context had been omitted, alternatives had not been explored, and risks had not been fully assessed.

On the building. The board was told the premises were not fit for purpose, citing flood risk and space limitations. The FOI documents showed 82% of the building had been rated satisfactory or better, with a projected lifespan of around 40 years and backlog maintenance costs of approximately £94,000 over ten years. No alternative premises had been explored. No relocation feasibility assessment had been carried out. No comparison had been made between upgrade and closure costs.

On the workforce. The board was told the practice was entirely locum-dependent with no Clinical Lead and no salaried GPs. The FOI documents showed that the same locums had been working at Meddygfa’r Sarn for years, providing what the health board’s own records described as continuity of care. The surgery has been without a salaried GP since February 2025 — but no targeted recruitment campaign had been run for the surgery specifically in nine years. The case was framed around symptoms, not the absence of effort to address them.

On the finances. The board was told closure would cost an estimated £131,000 plus IT and support payments. What it was not told was the cost of any alternative — because none had been calculated. No comparison with other practices. No cost-per-patient benchmarking. No financial modelling of a merger, a refurbishment, or sustained recruitment.

On performance. The board heard about governance concerns and prescribing risks. It did not hear that patient satisfaction stood at 8.02 out of 10, that 74% of patients were satisfied with access, that staff appraisal compliance was 100% and core training compliance 95.3%.

On patient impact. The board was not given a travel time analysis. No equality impact assessment. No rural deprivation analysis. No safeguarding plan for vulnerable patients. The full Equality Impact Assessment was only completed in April 2026, three months after the original recommendation — and only after patients at the Pontyberem drop-in event in March explicitly demanded one.

On clinical risk. The Clinical Assurance Framework inspection — the formal governance review — had not been completed at the time the closure recommendation was made.

On strategy. While the board was being asked to close Meddygfa’r Sarn, Hywel Dda’s own new strategy, “A Healthier Mid and West Wales”, was telling patients it would deliver “more care closer to where you live by providing services in the community first” and that where services changed location, the board would “make sure they remain safe, sustainable and based on clinical standards.”

On alternatives. Hybrid models — retaining Meddygfa’r Sarn with a shared workforce. Targeted investment. Phased improvement. Enhanced recruitment. Community-based redesign. None of these had been meaningfully explored in the case presented to the board in January.

Hywel Dda’s own April 2026 Equality Impact Assessment — produced after the FOI material had become public — scored the impact of dispersal on older people, disabled patients and those facing socio-economic deprivation at -9 out of a possible -25. That is a moderate negative impact, rated as likely to occur.

The six questions Hywel Dda has not answered

On 12 May, Swansea Bay News put six detailed questions to the health board based on the FOI analysis. The questions asked whether the correct process had been followed, whether equality assessments and travel time modelling had been completed before January’s meeting, and whether the board had a full and balanced picture of the evidence before it.

The health board asked for an extension until its board paper was published on 21 May. The response, when it arrived this afternoon, pointed us to the published board paper and to a corporate press release in which Chief Operating Officer Andrew Carruthers thanked everyone who had shared their views during the engagement period.

None of our six questions were answered directly.

957 voices

The engagement period that followed the board’s January decision was extensive. By the time it closed on 6 April, 957 patients had completed the questionnaire — supplemented by six emails, four telephone calls and three letters. More than 350 people attended three public drop-in events held in Pontyates, Pontyberem and Carway.

The feedback was overwhelmingly negative. Transport was the dominant concern at every event. Of those who responded to the questionnaire, 21% currently walk to Meddygfa’r Sarn. Around one in three respondents identified as disabled. A return taxi from Pontyates to Pontyberem was quoted at around £15. Some patients described bus journeys that would require travelling first into Carmarthen and then back out — a process that could mean waits of up to 90 minutes at the bus stop.

The Pontyates event, on 24 February, attracted 215 people. Carway, added only after councillors pushed for a third event, drew 89.

The health board has costed a community transport service through Dolen Teifi at between £19,000 and £85,000 a year, depending on hours and vehicle type. What it has not costed, despite repeated campaign requests, is the alternative — investment in the existing surgery and a sustained recruitment campaign for a salaried GP.

The campaigners’ view

Clare Treharne, who leads the working group, said this week that the FOI evidence raised serious concerns about whether the original closure recommendation was fair, balanced, or fully informed. The case for closing the surgery, she said, was built on selective information with key evidence missing or incomplete.

The working group has submitted a 52-page report and a separate sustainability document to the health board ahead of Thursday’s meeting. A clinical team — understood to comprise a GP and a pharmacist — has separately submitted a bid to take over the running of the surgery.

The group’s other prominent spokesperson, retired nurse Janet Knott, served the NHS for 52 years, much of it in the Gwendraeth valley. She has warned that the dispersal plan would place enormous strain on receiving practices that are already overstretched.

The political dimension

The story has crossed every party line. Independent Senedd candidate Carl Peters-Bond joined the campaign in April. In May, the independent candidate and surgery patient called on Hywel Dda to scrap the closure plan following the FOI revelations. The Green Party candidate called for an independent review of the process, citing the missing equality assessment.

Local councillors have issued a joint statement calling for any decision to be postponed, saying that, as local representatives, they have no confidence in the process Hywel Dda has conducted. They have called on the board to put patients before savings.

Campaigners have also written to the six newly elected Senedd Members for the Caerfyrddin constituency, requesting a meeting to put last-minute pressure on the board. First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth, interviewed on the BBC the day after being sworn in, pledged that his government would prioritise primary care and redress the funding imbalance that has grown in recent years.

What the board will be asked to do on Thursday

If members agree to the procurement route, a new Vacant Practice Panel will eventually be convened to consider the outcome of that process and make a fresh recommendation. The board paper proposes skipping reconvening a Vacant Practice Panel before procurement begins, in the interests of expediency.

Hywel Dda’s recommendation is that board members:

— note the feedback from the public engagement period
— note the informal expressions of interest received during the engagement period
— agree that a procurement process should be undertaken to test the feasibility of an independent contractor taking on a GMS or APMS contract for Meddygfa’r Sarn

What the recommendation does not propose is the option many in the community have been asking for from the beginning: a proper, targeted, sustained recruitment campaign for a salaried GP at Meddygfa’r Sarn, supported by investment in the existing building.

The Public Board meeting takes place at Yr Egin, Carmarthen, from 9.30am on Thursday 28 May. It will be broadcast live on Hywel Dda’s YouTube channel. Campaigners are urging supporters to attend in person. Further information is available from the Save Meddygfa’r Sarn Working Group at [email protected].

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

FOI reveals no specific recruitment attempts for Sarn surgery GP in 9 years as decision day looms
The Freedom of Information disclosures that reshaped the campaign — and the questions they raised.

Pontyates residents form human chain around surgery in ‘Cwtsho’r Sarn’ solidarity event
Hundreds turned out to wrap the building in a show of community support.

MS raises alarm over Pontyates GP closure as fears grow surgery is being ‘wound down’
Lee Waters MS wrote to Hywel Dda demanding answers in February.

Future of Pontyates GP surgery in doubt as health board considers dispersing all 4,300 patients
Our original report from 22 January 2026, when the closure threat first emerged.

HYWEL DDA: Stroke patients in west Wales face major shake-up as health board prepares to launch new consultation — with Glangwili set to become the region’s only 24-hour acute unit

Stroke patients across west Wales could face much longer journeys for specialist care under plans being put out to public consultation — with Llanelli‘s Prince Philip Hospital set to lose its acute stroke capability if the preferred option goes ahead.

Hywel Dda University Health Board will decide at its public board meeting on 28 May whether to launch a second round of consultation on the future of stroke services — the one area it couldn’t reach agreement on when it made decisions on eight other fragile services at an extraordinary meeting in February.

Under the preferred option now being put forward, Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen would become the region’s only 24-hour acute stroke and rehabilitation unit.

Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli, Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest and Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth would all become treat-and-transfer sites — meaning patients would receive initial stabilisation there before being transferred to Glangwili, or directly to a thrombectomy centre in Cardiff or Bristol.

Bronglais would also have a stroke rehabilitation unit under the plan.

The health board says the current setup is dangerous. Stroke services are currently spread across four hospital sites and there is no specialist cover seven days a week — meaning patients are not always getting the standard of care they should.

The preferred option was not one of the original ideas put out to consultation. It emerged from two alternative suggestions — Option 106 and Option 210 — put forward by members of the public during the first phase. The board felt that neither worked on its own, but combined, they could.

The proposal is a significant one for Llanelli. The town has already seen its Minor Injuries Unit downgraded as part of the same Clinical Services Plan process, and local councillors have been vocal about the cumulative impact of service losses at Prince Philip.

Councillor Sean Rees warned last year that Llanelli “cannot afford to lose any more” of its healthcare services, and raised specific concerns about what the stroke changes would mean for Prince Philip — including the added pressure of patients being transferred in from Ceredigion if Bronglais was downgraded.

The board’s chair Dr Neil Wooding said the second consultation was a direct result of what communities told the board during the first phase.

He said: “Thank you to everyone who has already given their time and provided feedback in the first phase of our Clinical Services Plan consultation, which has enabled us to reach this point. While we were able to take decisions on eight of the nine fragile services included in our Clinical Services Plan earlier this year, no decisions about the future model for stroke services have been made.”

Lee Davies, Executive Director of Strategy and Planning, said: “We know how important stroke services are to our communities, and we are committed to taking the time needed to understand people’s views on the preferred option and the other options already consulted on, before any final decisions are made.”

He added: “We need to change our current service to ensure that people in our communities have the best possible outcomes and chance of recovery from a stroke.”

The consultation will ask whether people support the preferred option — and if not, which of the previously consulted-on alternatives should be considered instead. People will also be able to flag equality and Welsh language concerns.

If approved on 28 May, the consultation opens the same day and runs until 26 July 2026. The board will then weigh all the evidence from both phases before making a final decision later this year.

The public board meeting on 28 May will be broadcast live online, with board papers already published on the Hywel Dda website.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Councillor warns against further service losses in Llanelli amid health board consultation
Independent councillor Sean Rees says Prince Philip Hospital cannot afford to lose more services as the Clinical Services Plan consultation continues.

Llanelli’s minor injuries unit to become 12-hour urgent care treatment centre — no return to 24-hour service
Hywel Dda confirms the MIU will not return to round-the-clock opening as part of its Clinical Services Plan decisions.

Hywel Dda to explore more than 100 new ideas for local health services
The health board received 4,000 responses and more than 100 new ideas as part of its Clinical Services Plan consultation.

Calls grow for urgent investment in west Wales hospitals as new-build plan pushed back a decade
Senior health leaders and politicians call for millions to be spent upgrading existing hospitals after a new build is delayed by ten years.

LLANELLI: Blood test services moving to Canolfan Pentre Awel on 1 June — with drop-in event next week for patients who want to know more

Llanelli patients needing blood tests will have a new home from 1 June, as Hywel Dda University Health Board confirms its phlebotomy service is moving to Canolfan Pentre Awel.

The service has been based at the Mass Vaccination Centre in Dafen since 2024, when it was moved there temporarily. The 1 June move to Pentre Awel represents its permanent new base.

The 2024 move to Dafen was deeply controversial. The Mass Vaccination Centre sits on an industrial estate with no public bus routes — meaning patients without a car had no way of getting there. The backlash was immediate, with the Health Board forced to introduce limited appointments at Prince Philip Hospital specifically for those who relied on public transport and couldn’t reach the Dafen site.

The service had originally been based at the Antioch Centre on Copperworks Road — a short walk from Llanelli train station and considerably more accessible by public transport than either the Dafen industrial estate or Pentre Awel. For many patients, the last two years have meant navigating a service that felt like it had been designed without them in mind.

Patients who want to find out more can attend a drop-in event at Canolfan Pentre Awel on Wednesday 20 May, running from 2pm to 6pm — giving them the chance to see the new facility ahead of the move.

Dylan Jones, Head of Pathology Services at Hywel Dda, said the new facility offered a much-improved environment for patients.

“This new facility offers a bright, accessible environment with excellent transport routes and parking, which we know is important to our patients,” he said. “Working alongside colleagues in Research and Innovation, as well as other clinical teams, will also provide improved working conditions for staff and a more seamless experience for patients.”

He added that the move represented a long-term investment in services for the Llanelli community.

Sara Quarrie, Service Director for Allied Health Professions and Health Sciences at Hywel Dda, said the team had worked hard to ensure the move delivered real benefits for both patients and staff.

“We know how important it is for local people to have a service that is easy to get to and meets their needs,” she said. “We look forward to welcoming our community to the new site and continuing to provide a safe, efficient and patient-centred service.”

Cllr Hazel Evans, Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said she was pleased to see the building being used for its intended purpose.

“I am pleased to see Canolfan Pentre Awel being used for its intended purpose, by offering frontline medical health care services to our community in a more accessible location,” she said.

Canolfan Pentre Awel opened to the public in October 2025 and offers improved accessibility, transport links and parking. A new hydrotherapy pool opened there in February 2026 — made possible through a partnership between Carmarthenshire County Council, Hywel Dda and charitable donations from the Llanelli Hydrotherapy Pool Committee, the Elizabeth Williams Endowment, Treat Trust Wales and the Welsh Government.

For patients travelling by public transport, the L1 and L2 bus routes connect Canolfan Pentre Awel to key locations across Llanelli approximately every 90 minutes, including Llanelli town centre, Parc Trostre, Prince Philip Hospital and Felinfoel. The L11 route serves Kidwelly and surrounding areas at the start and end of the day.

Patients must pre-book blood test appointments online at hduhb.nhs.wales/healthcare/services-and-teams/blood-tests or by calling the Communications Hub on 0300 303 9642. A referral from a medical professional is required to access the service.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

BLOOD TEST SHUFFLE: Llanelli patients moved AGAIN as services shift to new £60m Pentre Awel site
The March 2026 story confirming the Pentre Awel move was coming.

Health Board moves Llanelli blood tests to out-of-town industrial park
The controversial 2024 move to Dafen that left patients without bus services stranded.

LLANELLI: Prince Philip Hospital becomes first in Wales to offer pioneering cancer diagnosis technique

Prince Philip Hospital has become the first and currently only centre in Wales to offer CryoEBUS — a procedure that combines ultrasound guidance with a freezing technique to collect lymph node tissue samples that are larger and better preserved than those obtained through conventional methods.

The technique, known in full as Cryobiopsy Endobronchial Ultrasound, uses special biopsy needles alongside a freezing process to collect tissue from lymph nodes and, in some cases, lung masses. The improved sample quality makes diagnosis more accurate and is increasingly important for the molecular testing now used to guide newer treatments in lung cancer.

The procedure was introduced at Prince Philip Hospital in November 2025 and is performed under conscious sedation. It integrates into existing bronchoscopy and endobronchial ultrasound pathways, combining two sampling techniques into one streamlined procedure — reducing the need for repeat procedures and supporting earlier treatment planning for more complex cases.

The first procedures were carried out by Dr Robin Ghosal, Clinical Director at Prince Philip Hospital and Consultant Respiratory Physician, working alongside Dr Jonathan Fisher-Black, Consultant Respiratory Physician, and the hospital’s Endoscopy team. Dr Ghosal has completed specialist CryoEBUS training to bring the service to west Wales.

“It’s a very new technology which is gaining momentum and Prince Philip Hospital is the first in Wales to use it and one of only a handful in the whole of the UK,” said Dr Ghosal.

He said the improved diagnostic capability represented a real step forward for patients. “This allows us to obtain significantly improved tissue samples while remaining minimally invasive. This has important implications for diagnostic confidence, particularly in complex lymph node pathology, and supports more efficient progression to treatment decisions.”

CryoEBUS is particularly valuable for diagnosing complex respiratory conditions including lymphoproliferative and granulomatous diseases, where sample size and preservation are critical for accurate analysis.

The procedure uses endobronchial ultrasound guidance alongside specialised biopsy needles and a freezing technique, allowing doctors to get larger and better-preserved samples in a single visit rather than requiring multiple procedures. For patients, that means shorter diagnostic pathways and more timely access to treatment.

The technology is becoming increasingly significant as molecular testing takes on a greater role in guiding newer cancer treatments. Better tissue samples mean better molecular analysis — and better molecular analysis means more targeted and effective care.

Dr Ghosal said the procedure also enhances clinicians’ ability to diagnose conditions beyond cancer, including complex lymph node diseases where sample quality has historically been a limiting factor in reaching a confident diagnosis.

“The procedure integrates an innovative technique into established bronchoscopic and endobronchial ultrasound workflows, offering an advanced less invasive option that can reduce the need for repeat procedures and support earlier treatment planning for more complex cases,” he said.

Hywel Dda University Health Board’s Medical Director, Mr Mark Henwood, said the health board was always looking at innovative ways to improve patient care. “I’m very proud that Prince Philip Hospital is leading the way in which we diagnose respiratory diseases,” he said.

“This just goes to show that you don’t have to live in a big city to have access to the most pioneering and effective health care. Congratulations to Robin and his team for all the hard work and training they have put in to bring the CryoEBUS testing to west Wales.”

The adoption of CryoEBUS at Prince Philip Hospital reflects the continued evolution of respiratory diagnostics across NHS services and reinforces the hospital’s commitment to innovation for patients in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.

The service is now available as part of the hospital’s standard diagnostic pathway, meaning eligible patients in west Wales can now access a technique previously only available at a handful of centres across the entire UK.

More from Hywel Dda University Health Board

Norovirus forces ward closures at Prince Philip Hospital as outbreak spreads across region
When a norovirus outbreak hit the Llanelli hospital and spread across the Hywel Dda area.

Glangwili Hospital faces £82m repair backlog as Wales-wide NHS maintenance bill nears £1bn
The scale of the maintenance challenge facing Hywel Dda’s hospital estate.

£2m upgrade begins at Glangwili Hospital to ease pressure on A&E
Investment in west Wales’s hospital infrastructure to improve patient flow.

Hywel Dda to explore more than 100 new ideas for local health services
The health board’s wider drive to innovate and improve services across west Wales.

PONTYATES: Green Party candidate calls for independent review of Meddygfa’r Sarn closure process — citing missing equality assessment and lack of pre-consultation engagement

A Green Party candidate has called on Hywel Dda University Health Board to pause its decision on the future of Meddygfa’r Sarn in Pontyates – warning that a full Equality Impact Assessment has not yet been completed, and that no community engagement was undertaken before a preferred option was identified.

Michael Willis, Green Party candidate for Carmarthenshire in Thursday’s Senedd election, made the call following the Freedom of Information disclosure obtained by the Save Meddygfa’r Sarn Working Group and reported by Swansea Bay News, which he says raises serious questions about whether every reasonable option has been exhausted before recommending the closure of the surgery.

The FOI disclosure states that no community engagement was undertaken before managed dispersal was identified as the preferred option. It also confirms that an Equality Impact Assessment – intended to examine the impact on older residents, disabled patients, Welsh-speaking patients and those without access to private transport – will not be completed until the 28 May board meeting itself, rather than having informed the recommendation at an earlier stage.

Willis is calling for a full independent review of GP recruitment efforts at the surgery since Hywel Dda took over its management in 2017, alongside publication of all options considered – including incentives, shared roles, training practice status, alternative premises and branch-service models. He is also calling for a capacity assessment of receiving practices before any patient transfer is approved.

“The people of Pontyates deserve more than a closure proposal dressed up as inevitability,” he said. “If the Health Board is relying on recruitment failure as a central reason for dispersing patients, then residents are entitled to see clear evidence of a sustained, targeted and imaginative recruitment effort for this surgery.”

The FOI disclosure revealed that the health board made no targeted attempts to recruit a salaried GP to the practice in nine years – despite citing a lack of recruitment interest as a key reason for recommending closure. The only recruitment activity recorded was a small number of circular letters sent to locums already working across managed practices in Carmarthenshire.

The campaign to save Meddygfa’r Sarn has been running since January, when Hywel Dda first proposed dispersing all 4,300 patients to other surgeries. Campaigners lodged a formal complaint over the consultation process, submitted a 52-page report and sustainability document to the board, and held a human chain around the surgery. Independent candidate and surgery patient Carl Peters-Bond has also called on the board to scrap the closure proposal, describing the board’s recruitment claims as “duplicitous.”

Willis said the issue went beyond a single surgery. “A GP surgery is not simply a building. It is continuity of care, local trust, access for older people, support for families, and a key part of community infrastructure. Once lost, services like this are rarely restored,” he said.

Hywel Dda University Health Board’s position, as set out in its January report, is that the practice is “entirely locum-dependent” and that there has been “little interest in recruitment to salaried roles” – the characterisation that campaigners and candidates dispute.

The health board began an eight-week engagement period on 9 February, running until 6 April, ahead of a board decision expected at Yr Egin in Carmarthen on 28 May. Under the proposal, patients would be transferred to nearby practices including Coalbrook Surgery in Pontyberem, Meddygfa Minafon in Kidwelly, and some practices in Llanelli.

Willis said managed dispersal should be treated as a last resort rather than a default. “Hywel Dda should pause the process, publish the full evidence base, and work with residents on a credible rescue plan before any irreversible decision is taken,” he said.

The final decision on the future of Meddygfa’r Sarn will be made at the Hywel Dda University Health Board meeting on Wednesday 28 May at Yr Egin in Carmarthen.

Our Meddygfa’r Sarn coverage

FOI reveals no specific recruitment attempts for Sarn surgery GP in 9 years
Our original report on the recruitment revelation.

Independent candidate and surgery patient calls on Hywel Dda to scrap closure
Carl Peters-Bond’s reaction to the FOI revelation.

Residents submit 52-page report as confidence in health board process collapses
How the Save Meddygfa’r Sarn Working Group has fought the closure proposal.

PONTYATES: FOI reveals no specific recruitment attempts for Sarn surgery GP in 9 years as decision day looms

The campaign to save a rural GP surgery in Carmarthenshire has uncovered what campaigners say is a damning revelation – that the health board managing Meddygfa’r Sarn in Pontyates made no specific attempts to recruit a salaried GP to the practice for nine years, despite citing a lack of interest as a key reason for its closure recommendation.

Freedom of Information documents obtained by the Save Meddygfa’r Sarn Working Group reveal that since Hywel Dda University Health Board took over management of the practice in 2017, the only recruitment efforts made were circular letters sent to locums already working across managed practices in 2021, 2023 and 2024 – asking whether any wished to take up salaried roles. The surgery has been without a salaried GP since February 2025, and apart from one GP recruited in 2021 who left the same year, no targeted recruitment campaign has ever been run for Meddygfa’r Sarn specifically.

Campaigners say this directly contradicts an impression given in the health board’s own January report on the surgery, which stated: “The Practice is entirely locum-dependent currently and there has been little interest in recruitment to salaried roles.” The FOI documents suggest that limited interest may have been a consequence of limited effort.

Jane Nicholas, speaking on behalf of the working group, said the health board’s approach showed a lack of vision. “Despite not having any salaried GPs at present, we do feel well supported by the surgery,” she said. “We have continuity of care as many of the locums have worked at Meddygfa’r Sarn for years. It’s a great team and we really value being able to access care locally and get an appointment when needed. Being seen promptly at the local surgery keeps patients away from A&E which is a cost saving in the long run. The Health Board’s recommendation shows a lack of vision and forward planning.”

The FOI documents also reveal that Meddygfa’r Sarn is far from alone in its reliance on locums. Minafon surgery in Kidwelly – which would receive approximately 1,000 extra patients under the proposed dispersal plan – is itself 83% reliant on locum staff. Other managed practices are between 29% and 77% reliant on locums, raising serious questions about the capacity of receiving surgeries to absorb thousands of displaced patients overnight.

Retired nurse Janet Knott, who served the NHS for 52 years including many years in the Gwendraeth area, warned that the proposed mass dispersal of patients would place enormous strain on receiving surgeries and their staff. “The Health Board’s plans would see thousands of patients transferred overnight. That is very worrying for patients but also for the staff at the other surgeries, particularly the reception staff, who would have to field calls from many more anxious patients,” she said. She added that the people of the Gwendraeth valley felt “let down and discriminated against” by the proposals.

Janet and Jane spoke to Dylan Ebenezer on Radio Cymru’s Dros Frecwast programme on 23 April – the same day the S4C party leaders debate took place at Yr Egin in Carmarthen, with health and NHS spending taking centre stage. Following the interview, Janet surprised Dylan by revealing a personal connection – she had supported his mother-in-law during her time in Glangwili’s maternity unit after giving birth to his wife, and Dylan had long heard stories of a nurse named Janet who had been particularly supportive. He insisted on a photograph to share with his wife.

The working group has submitted a 52-page report and separate sustainability document to the health board, alongside a new proposal from a clinical team to provide services at Meddygfa’r Sarn. Hundreds of patients attended three public engagement events or responded in writing during the consultation process.

Campaigners are concerned that the FOI documents – which arrived too late to inform their formal submission – may contain further significant revelations. They are continuing to work through the material.

The surgery serves patients across the Gwendraeth valley, and campaigners say its closure would leave a vulnerable rural community without accessible local primary care, pushing patients towards already-stretched services in Llanelli and Carmarthen.

Hywel Dda University Health Board has been approached for comment.

A final decision on the future of Meddygfa’r Sarn will be made at the Hywel Dda University Health Board meeting on Wednesday 28 May at Yr Egin, Carmarthen. Campaigners will be attending in person, and the proceedings can be followed online – details will be published on the Hywel Dda website.

Our Meddygfa’r Sarn coverage

Senedd candidate joins campaign to save Meddygfa’r Sarn as pressure on health board mounts
Political pressure grows as the Senedd election campaign focuses attention on the surgery’s future.

Campaigners lodge formal complaint over Pontyates GP surgery closure plans
The working group escalates its challenge to the health board’s process.

Hundreds protest to save Pontyates GP surgery as council demands action
Community anger spills over as councillors demand the health board think again.

Residents step up fight to save Pontyates GP surgery as confidence in health board process collapses
The campaign intensifies as trust in the consultation process breaks down.

Pontyates surgery gets temporary lifeline as health board delays final decision
A stay of execution – but the final decision is now set for 28 May.

Future of Pontyates GP surgery in doubt as health board considers dispersing all 4,300 patients
Our original report when the closure threat first emerged.

PONTYATES SURGERY: Senedd candidate Carl Peters-Bond joins campaign to save Meddygfa’r Sarn as pressure on health board mounts

Independent Senedd candidate and Kidwelly Town Mayor Carl Peters-Bond has publicly backed the campaign to save Meddygfa’r Sarn in Pontyates, joining a growing list of political figures demanding that Hywel Dda University Health Board halt its closure plans.

Peters-Bond, who is standing as the Sir Gaerfyrddin and Kidwelly constituency candidate at the upcoming Senedd election, is himself a patient at the surgery. He met with campaign co-ordinator Clare Treharne outside the practice to hear residents’ concerns and discuss the growing frustration with the process being led by the health board.

He said the surgery was far more than a building to the people who relied on it. “Pontyates Surgery is not just a building — it is a lifeline. For many residents, especially older people and those without transport, losing this surgery would mean losing access to basic healthcare. That is simply unacceptable,” he said.

Peters-Bond said he had been struck by the strength of feeling among patients and campaigners. “I’ve spoken to patients, campaigners and local councillors. The message is the same every time: people feel ignored, sidelined and worn down by a process that seems designed to reach a predetermined outcome. This community deserves better,” he said.

The campaign to save Meddygfa’r Sarn has gathered considerable momentum in recent months. Hundreds of residents have attended protest events, a petition has passed 1,000 signatures, a human chain was formed around the building, and campaigners have lodged a formal complaint about the way the consultation process has been handled. Local councillors have repeatedly said they have lost confidence in the health board’s approach.

Peters-Bond warned that closure would have knock-on consequences across the wider rural healthcare system. Patients dispersed to other practices would pile pressure onto already overstretched surgeries, travel times for appointments would increase sharply for those without cars, and vulnerable residents would face new barriers to accessing even routine care.

He said the pattern of rural communities losing services first was one that had to end. “Rural communities like Pontyates are always the first to lose services and the last to see investment. This pattern has to end. Healthcare should be based on need, not postcode,” he said.

He is calling on Hywel Dda University Health Board to halt the closure process, publish transparent evidence for any proposed changes, engage meaningfully with residents and campaigners, and commit to maintaining GP provision in Pontyates.

“People have lost trust in this process — and with good reason. The health board must reset its approach, listen to the community and guarantee that GP services will remain in Pontyates,” Peters-Bond said.

Hywel Dda University Health Board has not yet responded to the latest calls for the process to be paused.

Swansea Bay News coverage of the Pontyates Surgery campaign

Campaigners lodge formal complaint over Pontyates GP surgery closure plans
How residents escalated their concerns after losing confidence in the health board’s process.

Hundreds protest to save Pontyates GP surgery as council demands action
The human chain, the packed public meetings and the growing political pressure.

Health board to hold extra public meeting on Pontyates GP surgery closure plans
How the health board responded to the campaign — and why campaigners remained unconvinced.

Council demands action on Pontyates surgery closure as councillors warn of ‘predetermined outcome’
The full story of the council motion and the accusations against the health board.

NHS DENTISTRY: Nine-year-old waited two years for treatment — then was seen within days after dentist used rapid advice service

A nine-year-old girl in west Wales waited nearly two years for orthodontic treatment after her referral was rejected — only to be seen within days once her dentist used a rapid specialist advice service to break through the delays.

The case, in the same week that Wales’s biggest dental shake-up in a generation came into force, illustrates the pressure already building across the NHS in west Wales — with dentists warning that long referral times are causing children to miss critical treatment windows.

Dr Christina Evans, a dentist in the Hywel Dda University Health Board area, described the case of a patient whose condition had been deteriorating while she waited for specialist care. The original referral had been rejected with advice to wait until the child had more permanent teeth. By the time Dr Evans saw her again, the situation had worsened significantly.

Dr Evans said she had not known what to do when the girl’s condition continued to deteriorate. “I had originally referred her nearly two years ago — but the referral was rejected with the comment: ‘Wait until the patient has more permanent teeth.’ More recently, I saw her again, and her condition was deteriorating. She was growing more, and the skeletal pattern was getting worse. I didn’t know what to do,” she said.

Concerned about missing the optimal window for treatment, Dr Evans turned to Consultant Connect — a telemedicine service that gives clinicians rapid access to specialist advice — and contacted an orthodontic specialist at Morriston Hospital directly.

She said: “I explained the situation and that I was worried about missing the window of opportunity for treatment.” The consultant responded immediately, advising that a referral would now be appropriate. Dr Evans submitted the referral and said: “The patient’s family received a call approximately two days after I sent the referral to make an appointment.”

She said the service had transformed her ability to act quickly for patients. “The advantage of Consultant Connect is that you can receive a response quickly, so you don’t need to delay treatment while waiting for a referral response. You can move forward confidently and treat the patient appropriately without unnecessary delay,” she said.

Across the Hywel Dda area, 74% of cases using the service avoid a hospital visit entirely — freeing up capacity in the system while getting patients the advice they need faster.

The case comes as NHS dentistry in Wales faces a period of significant upheaval. From this week, the Welsh Government’s new dental contract has come into force, bringing higher patient charges, longer intervals between check-ups, and warnings from dentists that the reforms risk pushing more practices out of the NHS altogether. Critics have argued the changes will make it harder, not easier, for patients to access timely care.

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BLOOD TEST SHUFFLE: Llanelli patients moved AGAIN as services shift to new £60m Pentre Awel site

The move by Hywel Dda University Health Board marks the latest change for locals, who previously saw blood tests controversially shifted to an “out-of-town industrial park” in Dafen from the Antioch Centre in 2024.

That move drew heavy fire from patients at the time, as the Dafen Mass Vaccination Centre is not served by any public bus routes. The Health Board was even forced to offer limited appointments at Prince Philip Hospital specifically for those who relied on public transport and couldn’t reach the industrial estate.

Now, the service is set to find a permanent home at the £60 million Canolfan Pentre Awel, a modern sports and leisure facility that officially opened its doors in October 2025.

The new location is expected to be a relief for many, as it is marginally better served by public transport and sits much closer to the Antioch Centre where tests were originally held before the Dafen “exile.”

The Health Board claims the shift to Pentre Awel will finally offer the improved accessibility, better transport links, and more convenient parking that patients have been demanding.

Canolfan Pentre Awel already boasts a state-of-the-art hydrotherapy pool, which opened in February 2026, providing therapeutic support for people with various conditions.

The phlebotomy team will initially be based in Block B, sharing space with Research and Innovation services and a range of bookable clinical rooms.

While the Health Board states the move aims to enhance the “patient experience,” for many in Llanelli, it simply means yet another change to navigate for a routine but essential service.

For now, patients are being told to continue booking their blood test appointments at the current Dafen site or Prince Philip Hospital. Appointments can be made online via the existing booking system or by calling the Communications Hub on 0300 303 9642.

The Health Board has confirmed it will release further details regarding the exact opening date at Canolfan Pentre Awel and any changes to appointment arrangements as soon as they are available.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Health Board moves Llanelli blood tests to out-of-town industrial park Initial 2024 relocation that sparked anger over a lack of bus services and its remote location.

Canolfan Pentre Awel opens its doors in Llanelli after years of anticipation A first look at the £60 million facility that is now set to become the permanent home for blood tests.

CARMARTHEN: £2m hospital unit to reopen in bid to ease A&E pressure

A refurbished Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) unit at Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen will reopen to patients on Monday, March 30, in what health chiefs say is a major step towards easing pressure on overstretched emergency services.

The unit has undergone significant improvements backed by more than £2 million in Welsh Government funding, with changes designed to speed up care and improve the experience for both patients and staff.

Health board bosses say the upgraded facility will play a crucial role in reducing demand on the hospital’s busy Emergency Department, which has faced ongoing strain in recent years.

The investment has delivered additional consultation rooms, a revamped reception area and a more modern environment aimed at making visits less stressful for patients.

The move comes amid mounting pressure on services, with Glangwili already earmarked as a regional hub for emergency surgery and stroke care as part of wider plans to turn it into a major acute centre for west Wales.

The reopening also marks the return of several services that were temporarily relocated during the refurbishment work.

These include the Discharge Lounge, Medical Day Unit and the Primary Care Out of Hours service, all of which will move back into the upgraded SDEC building.

Specialist cancer support services will also return, including the Cancer Information and Support Service and the Cancer Psychological Support Service.

Patients accessing podiatry, neuro-rehabilitation and occupational therapy services will also see a return to normal access routes after months of disruption.

Health board director Keith Jones said the changes are expected to improve patient flow and reduce bottlenecks in urgent care.

He added that the improvements should help staff deliver a “smoother and swifter experience” for those attending the hospital.

The investment builds on wider upgrades at the site, including a previously reported £2m scheme to improve facilities and ease pressure on A&E, as well as separate plans to modernise diagnostic services such as X-ray facilities.

Welsh Government has said the funding forms part of a broader push to improve hospital environments and ensure patients are treated more quickly.

Patients attending appointments in the coming weeks are being urged to check their letters carefully, as clinic locations may have changed with services moving back into the refurbished unit.

Clear signage will be in place across the hospital, and staff will be on hand to help direct visitors to the correct departments.

While the reopening is being welcomed, it comes as health services across west Wales continue to face high demand, with hospitals under sustained pressure to meet growing patient needs.

The hope for local residents is that the revamped SDEC unit will help ease some of that strain and deliver quicker care when it matters most.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Carmarthen: Glangwili to become regional hub as health bosses centralise emergency surgery and stroke services
Major service changes show how Glangwili is becoming a key hospital for west Wales.

£2m upgrade begins at Glangwili Hospital to ease pressure on A&E
Earlier investment aimed at tackling rising demand in the hospital’s emergency department.

Glangwili’s X-ray facilities set for upgrade
Diagnostic improvements form part of wider plans to modernise services at the hospital.

West Wales: Urgent warning to parents as meningitis outbreak sparks fears

Health chiefs covering Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion say the disease can become “very serious quickly” — and are warning that not all children and teenagers are fully protected.

The warning comes as a major outbreak in Kent has seen dozens of cases and at least two deaths, with health officials racing to contain the spread.

The cluster — centred around Canterbury — has been linked to schools and universities, with cases rising rapidly and thousands of people offered vaccines and antibiotics.

Experts have also warned there is a risk of further cases appearing elsewhere, particularly as people travel around the country.

Dr Ardiana Gjini, of Hywel Dda University Health Board, said vaccination remains the strongest defence.

“Ensuring your child is fully vaccinated not only safeguards their health but also helps prevent the spread of infections within our communities,” she said.

Figures show that in west Wales, uptake of the MenACWY vaccine among teenagers is just 76.4% — meaning many school leavers are still unprotected.

For younger children, rates are higher but still below the 95% target:

• 92.8% vaccinated by their first birthday
• 91.8% by their second birthday

Officials say more families must come forward to close the gap.

Public Health Wales has also stressed the seriousness of the disease, even though overall case numbers in Wales remain relatively low.

Dr Christopher Johnson said: “While meningococcal disease is rare, it can become very serious quickly.

“The most important thing people can do is be aware of the symptoms and seek urgent medical advice if they are concerned.”

He warned symptoms can escalate fast and may include a high temperature, severe headache, vomiting, a stiff neck, sensitivity to light, confusion and a rash that does not fade when pressed.

“Not everyone will have all of the symptoms,” he added. “If someone becomes suddenly unwell or symptoms worsen quickly, it is important to seek medical help immediately.”

Meningitis can lead to life-threatening complications including septicaemia, and around one in 10 cases can be fatal.

Health bosses are now urging parents and carers across west Wales to check vaccination records, contact their GP if any doses have been missed, and remain vigilant.

They say quick action could save lives.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Campaigners lodge formal complaint over Pontyates GP surgery closure plans
Residents challenge the consultation process as fears grow over access to local care.

Llanelli teen invited to Parliament after years of agony from invisible illness
A young patient’s story highlights the struggle for diagnosis and support.

Hywel Dda Health Board pays out after serious failings
An Ombudsman report finds a patient left with significant sight loss after missed care.

Swansea Bay doctors pioneer cancer drug breakthrough
A world‑first approach developed locally could extend lives across Wales.

Glangwili to become regional hub as services centralise
A major shake‑up of emergency surgery and stroke care across Hywel Dda.

More health news
The latest updates on hospitals, patient safety and NHS changes across the region.

HYWEL DDA: Health board pays out after patient left with ‘significant sight impairment’ following ‘serious failings’

A damning report from the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales found the health board missed multiple opportunities to treat the patient, known as Mrs B, who was “lost to follow-up” for seven years.

The investigation found that clinicians failed to act on advice from another health board in 2012, did not carry out appropriate tests, and cancelled 11 appointments while the patient’s condition worsened.

The Ombudsman’s report concluded that if Mrs B had received appropriate care, she would likely have “retained useful vision in her right eye.”

Instead, the “devastating impact” has resulted in her losing her confidence and independence, becoming depressed and isolated, and now requiring care to live at home.

The health board has been ordered to pay Mrs B £4,500 for the “serious failings” and a further £300 for the time and trouble she was put to in pursuing her complaint.

Sharon Daniel, Director of Nursing, Quality and Patient Experience at Hywel Dda University Health Board, offered an unreserved apology.

“We acknowledge the findings of the Ombudsman’s report and we are sorry for the failings identified and the impact on the patient who was under our care and her family,” she said.

“We recognise that there were significant failures in the way we approached the treatment of our patient that led to her suffering significant sight impairment. We apologise unreservedly for these failures.

“This is not the level of service we wish to provide our patients and we will strive to do better.”

The Ombudsman’s investigation highlighted that even during the COVID-19 pandemic, no assessment was made of the risk to Mrs B’s sight, despite guidance stating that imminently sight-threatening conditions “MUST CONTINUE” to be treated.

The report also criticised an “inadequate” review in March 2022, where relevant tests were not done and an opportunity was missed to make an earlier referral for specialist treatment.

Ms Daniel confirmed the health board accepted the Ombudsman’s recommendations and had started to implement improvements.

These include increased staffing levels, a new glaucoma co-ordinator role, and a better system for categorising patients based on their risk of vision loss.

The health board is also installing a new electronic patient record system, ‘Open Eyes’, to improve record keeping and ensure seamless information sharing with neighbouring health boards like Swansea Bay University Health Board.

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Health board to hold extra public meeting on controversial Pontyates GP surgery closure plans

The health board has confirmed it will hold a drop-in event at Carway Hall on Tuesday 31 March, between 2pm and 6.30pm, for patients and residents to share their views on the proposed closure of Meddygfa’r Sarn.

The announcement comes amid an ongoing eight-week engagement period, which was launched after the health board voted in January to seek feedback on a recommendation to disperse the surgery’s 4,300 patients to neighbouring practices.

That proposal has sparked a furious backlash from the local community, with hundreds of people attending protest meetings and councillors demanding the health board halt the closure plans.

In a statement, the health board said the surgery has faced what it describes as “ongoing and significant staffing challenges” and currently has no permanently employed GPs. The board also claims the building is small and offers limited facilities.

It says that a Vacant Practice Panel reviewed the options and recommended that the most sustainable long-term solution would be for patients to be transferred to their nearest neighbouring practice.

The health board added this may include Coalbrook Surgery in Pontyberem, Meddygfa Minafon in Kidwelly, or, for some patients, practices in Llanelli.

Andrew Carruthers, Chief Operating Officer at Hywel Dda University Health Board, said the extra meeting was a chance for more people to have their say.

“We’re pleased to offer this additional opportunity in Carway to ensure more people, particularly those in surrounding communities, have the chance to speak directly with us and share their views about what the proposal means for them.”

The health board has confirmed the engagement period runs until 6 April.

It said all feedback will be collated and presented to the board ahead of its meeting on 28 May, when a final decision is expected to be made.

The health board also confirmed that Meddygfa’r Sarn will remain open as usual during the engagement period.

Patients can also provide feedback by completing the questionnaire posted to their home address or online at haveyoursay.hduhb.wales.nhs.uk, by calling 0300 303 8322 (option 5), or by emailing [email protected].

Welsh Labour’s £4bn election pledge could revive controversial new Whitland or St Clears hospital plan

The commitment was made in the party’s manifesto pledges for the forthcoming Senedd elections, launched by Welsh Labour leader Eluned Morgan in Newport.

The press release states that the new £4bn “Hospitals for the Future Fund” would, over the next 10 years, fund a “hospital development in West Wales” alongside the replacement of the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff and the redevelopment of Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

This appears to refer to Hywel Dda University Health Board’s long-standing and controversial proposal for a new Urgent and Planned Care Hospital to be built near St Clears or Whitland in Carmarthenshire.

Those plans would see key services, including accident and emergency, removed from Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen and Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest, which would be downgraded to community hospitals.

Campaigners and local politicians have repeatedly raised concerns about the impact on residents in areas like Llanelli and Ammanford, who would face significantly longer journeys for emergency treatment.

Last year, Swansea Bay News reported that the new-build plan had been pushed back by at least a decade, with Hywel Dda’s chief executive saying he was making a “strong case” to the Welsh Government for immediate investment in existing sites instead.

The inclusion of a “hospital development in West Wales” in Welsh Labour’s flagship election pledge suggests the new-build plan is now firmly back on the agenda if the party wins the election.

In her speech, Eluned Morgan said: “The NHS is not just a service. It’s a promise. And we need to renew that promise. Not with slogans, but with the biggest investment programme in our history. So, we are committing £4 billion to build the Hospitals of the Future.”

She added: “Patients deserve hospitals fit for modern medicine, not more make-do and mend. Staff deserve a working environment that matches their skill and dedication. And Wales deserves an NHS built for the future, not held together by goodwill alone.”

The health board has previously argued that a new, purpose-built hospital would allow it to meet modern healthcare standards, attract staff, and provide more specialist services than are currently available across its existing sites.

Welsh Labour was contacted for clarification on whether the pledge refers specifically to the Hywel Dda new-build proposal.

Hundreds protest to save Pontyates GP surgery as council demands action

Over 100 supporters formed a human chain around the surgery on Tuesday, 24th February, in a ‘Cwtsho’r Sarn’ solidarity event designed to show the strength of feeling in the community against the closure plans. The protest came as Hywel Dda University Health Board held a drop-in engagement session in the nearby Memorial Hall, which saw hundreds of worried residents attend to voice their concerns.

Hywel Dda is currently holding an eight-week consultation on the future of the surgery, with its preferred option being to disperse the practice’s 3,000 patients to other surgeries in the area.

Organisers of the human chain, which had been planned as a highly visual show of solidarity, said they were delighted with the strong turnout. They were joined by local councillors and received backing from Senedd members including Adam Price and Cefin Campbell.

Llanelli MS Lee Waters, who has previously raised the alarm over the surgery’s future, pledged to continue advocating on behalf of patients. He said: “Local GP services matter. They’re about access, continuity of care, and supporting the health of the whole community.”

At the engagement event, residents raised concerns about the capacity of the neighbouring Coalbrook surgery in Pontyberem to absorb the extra patients, citing access issues, limited parking, and long waiting times.

Long-term patient Ffani Cattran, 77, felt that concerns about transport for those without cars were not adequately addressed. “They haven’t taken on board the transport issues and are assuming that people will be able to get lifts, which is neither fair nor reasonable,” she said. “This is a deprived area with historic health inequalities from its industrial past.”

The protests follow a decision by Carmarthenshire County Council on 25th February to demand action from the Health Board. The council passed a motion to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, asking for alternatives to closure to be properly considered. The council will also write to Hywel Dda’s Chair and Chief Executive to request that a Health Impact Assessment and an Equality Impact Assessment are published and considered before any final decision is made.

The campaign’s petition to save the surgery, which has gathered approximately 3,000 signatures, is set to be considered by the Senedd’s Petitions Committee on 2nd March.

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.

CHILDREN’S COMMISSIONER STEPS IN: Watchdog demands meeting with health board over special school nurse crisis

In a significant development, Rocio Cifuentes MBE has confirmed she will be writing to Hywel Dda University Health Board to “raise the issue and seek a meeting” regarding the lack of a dedicated, full-time nurse at Ysgol Heol Goffa.

The move comes just days after Swansea Bay News reported that campaigners, including parents and local councillors, had called for the commissioner to investigate, warning that “lives may be at risk” as teachers are forced to provide complex medical care to pupils with life-limiting conditions.

In a powerful statement, Ms Cifuentes said she had received correspondence raising “serious concerns” and understood the anxiety the situation was causing.

“I will be writing to Hywel Dda Health Board to raise the issue and seek a meeting. Estyn’s report clearly indicated the need for a dedicated school nurse so I hope that this issue can be addressed swiftly. I would also like to meet with the children, parents and staff affected at Ysgol Heol Goffa so that I can hear their views directly.”

The Commissioner’s intervention adds significant weight to the campaign, which has been backed by parents, school staff, and local politicians. Her statement directly references the Estyn inspection report which campaigners have pointed to as clear evidence that a full-time nurse is required.

Ms Cifuentes highlighted that the issue at the Llanelli special school is part of a wider, systemic problem across Wales.

“Children with complex and life-limiting medical needs have the right to feel safe and properly supported in school, and their best interests must always come first. Last year we published a report examining the experiences of children and young people with disabilities in Wales. Within it, we found that many parents feel schools do not always have access to the specialist knowledge and medical expertise required to fully support their children.”

She confirmed that her office has already been raising the issue with Welsh Government officials, asking them to “strengthen the role of health in meeting the needs of children who have Additional Learning Needs or who are disabled.”

As reported previously, parents and staff at the school have been calling for a full-time nurse for five years. Anxious parents said they were “horrified” to discover the provision was not in place, while Llanelli Town Councillor Shaun Greaney warned the authorities were playing “Russian roulette with pupils’ lives.”

Hywel Dda University Health Board previously stated that it provides a “dedicated school nurse to meet their universal health needs” and offers training to school staff.

Drawing a parallel with a previous successful intervention, the Commissioner noted her office’s involvement in securing a new, modern building for the school, which was approved in July 2025 after her office sought assurances that children’s voices were being heard.

She concluded with a message of optimism, stating: “I hope that we can reach a similarly positive conclusion for the children and young people at Ysgol Heol Goffa this time.”

Pontyates residents to form human chain around surgery in ‘Cwtsho’r Sarn’ solidarity event as petition tops 1,000 signatures

The “Cwtsho’r Sarn” event – meaning “hug the surgery” in Welsh – will see residents encircle Meddygfa’r Sarn at 3.30pm on 24 February to demonstrate how much the facility means to the community.

The solidarity event has been deliberately scheduled to coincide with Hywel Dda University Health Board’s drop-in session at the nearby Memorial Hall, where officials will listen to patients’ concerns about the proposed closure.

Christine MacTavish, who has been a patient at Meddygfa’r Sarn since 1982, said:

“We want to show Hywel Dda how much we value our surgery and the staff that work there.”

The campaign has gathered remarkable momentum since residents launched a fresh fight to save the surgery earlier this month, with more than 1,000 people signing a Senedd petition in just three weeks.

Organisers hope supporters will attend both the Cwtsho’r Sarn event and the subsequent Hywel Dda drop-in session.

“We want residents to tell the Health Board how vital the surgery is to them and how difficult it will be for vulnerable people to access health care if the closure goes ahead,”

said campaign group leader Clare Treharne.

Campaigners say Hywel Dda may have underestimated the strength of feeling locally, with residents angry that the Health Board appears to have had initial discussions with third parties and made plans for closure before informing patients.

David Priest, a founder member of the group and a resident in the area since the 1970s, said:

“Residents are well informed and know the history of their surgery better than officials and are ready to robustly challenge the rationale for closure and expose its flaws.”

The online petition, which runs until 1 March, will be considered by the Petitions Committee of the Senedd in their meeting in early March. Alongside the petition, the campaign group will submit detailed written evidence challenging the case for closure made by the Health Board.

Clare Treharne added:

“Many of the reasons cited by Hywel Dda do not stand up to scrutiny and we feel that some are deliberately misleading. We have highlighted these in our evidence to the committee and we very much hope that members will recommend that the Health Board reconsider its plans.”

The campaign has already secured significant political support, with Llanelli MS Lee Waters raising alarm over fears the surgery is being “wound down” before any final decision has been made.

Local councillors have also said they’ve “lost all confidence” in the Health Board’s process and formally demanded a halt to the closure plans.

The future of Meddygfa’r Sarn was first thrown into doubt in January when Hywel Dda announced it was considering dispersing all 4,300 patients to other practices.

The Health Board launched an eight-week consultation in February after delaying a final decision following intense community pressure.

Residents have warned that losing the surgery would be a “massive blow” to Pontyates and surrounding villages, with vulnerable and elderly patients facing significantly worse access to healthcare.

‘Lives may be at risk’: Watchdog probe demanded over Llanelli special school nurse crisis

Teachers and teaching assistants at Ysgol Heol Goffa are being forced to give lifesaving and urgent medical aid to pupils because of the lack of an on-site nurse at all times, according to parents and staff.

Despite having training, campaigners say education staff are not fully qualified to treat vulnerable children with life-threatening and complex medical needs.

Anxious parent Hannah Coles, herself a qualified nurse, said:

“I fear not just for the life of my son, but for those of my friends’ children every day. Parents should not have to have such awful anxiety because they send their children to school.”

She said parents had been “horrified” to discover there is no full-time nurse on site.

“It came as a complete shock. We all assumed the nurse who calls in from time to time was full-time and based in school. That is what we need and are demanding from the Hywel Dda University Health Board,” said Hannah.

School headteacher Ceri Hopkins said she had been calling for a full-time nurse on-site for five years.

“The staff are not happy to be dealing with emergencies that could jeopardise the children. They do their best at all times, and will do whatever is required, but school staff should be teaching, not nursing.”

Now Llanelli Town councillor Shaun Greaney, who represents Lliedi ward where the school is located, has written to the Children’s Commissioner for Wales calling for her to ensure there is no future tragedy at the school, where more than a dozen children have life-limiting or severely complex medical conditions.

“What alarms and angers me is that these children could be condemned to an early death,” he said.

“That is why I have written to the Commissioner, Rocio Cifuentes, who is the highest authority in Wales, urging her to bring much-needed pressure on Hywel Dda University Health Board to employ a full-time nurse at the school without delay,” said Councillor Greaney.

“The parents say they have been lucky to date that a child has not died but the authorities cannot keep playing Russian roulette with pupils’ lives. Should a preventable and foreseeable tragedy happen, I believe it would be their fault,” he added.

In her letter to the Commissioner, Hannah said:

“My son is tube fed and requires rescue medication for Dystonia. He is life limited and is medically complex. Every day I send him to school I put enormous trust in the systems meant to keep him safe.

“I want to sincerely thank Councillor Shaun Greaney for bringing this issue to your attention. Many of us as parents feel frightened and unheard, and we are grateful that someone has spoken up on behalf of our children.

“The staff at the school are compassionate, dedicated and do their absolute best. I cannot praise them highly enough. But they are not nurses. They are not medically qualified to deal with complex and potentially life-threatening emergencies.”

Llanelli MS Lee Waters has written to Lynn Neagle, Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Education, stating that there had been “limited senior engagement until very recently”.

He calls for her “support in raising the issue with Welsh Government officials and ensuring the necessary steps are taken to provide the school with the clinical support its pupils urgently require”.

He has also written to the chair of Hywel Dda, Dr Neil Wooding, expressing “deep concern” that Carmarthenshire County Council had been raising the lack of a full-time on-site nurse with the health authority for “several years”.

He says in the letter that the situation “warrants urgent attention and decisive action”.

In response, Hywel Dda University Health Board have said they are working with the school and county council to “understand the additional needs” of the school and staff following Estyn’s recommendations.

Sharon Daniel, the health board’s Director of Nursing, Quality & Patient Experience said:

“The health and wellbeing of all children and young people is fundamental to their ability to learn, thrive and reach their potential, and is a priority for the Health Board. We support the children and young people at Ysgol Heol Goffa with a dedicated school nurse to meet their universal health needs, and through the provision of training for staff at the school.

“The Health Board provides specialist support, ensuring each child and young person with healthcare needs can be cared for competently and confidently within the school environment.

“The Health Board has taken on board the recommendations made by Estyn to the school and Carmarthenshire County Council and is working to understand the additional needs of the school and the staff. Through continued partnership working and a shared commitment to improvement, the Health Board will support ongoing actions to strengthen provision and ensure the best possible outcomes for the pupils and staff at Ysgol Heol Goffa.”

CARMARTHEN: Glangwili to become regional hub as health bosses centralize emergency surgery and stroke services

Hywel Dda University Health Board has approved controversial plans to remove emergency general surgery from Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest, downgrade stroke services at Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth, and transfer specialist critical care patients from Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli to Glangwili.

The move will see patients from across Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, and Llanelli travelling to Glangwili for urgent treatment, raising questions about capacity, waiting times, and pressure on ambulance services in Carmarthenshire.

What Does This Mean for Llanelli and Carmarthen?

Under the new plans, Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli will lose its intensive care unit, with critically ill patients being transferred to Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen. An Enhanced Care Unit will be established at Prince Philip to provide care for “less sick patients” locally.

The health board confirmed that this will make permanent the current temporary patient transfers between hospitals, which have been in place due to staffing pressures.

Glangwili Hospital will also take on significantly more emergency surgery cases from across the region, with health bosses arguing that centralizing services will address “fragile” staffing levels and improve standards of care.

However, the decision has sparked concerns about whether Carmarthen’s hospitals can cope with the additional demand, particularly given existing pressures on emergency departments and ambulance services.

Lee Davies, Executive Director of Strategy and Planning at Hywel Dda, said:

“Our priority is always to deliver the highest standards of care for our patients across Hywel Dda and our neighbouring communities. As our teams develop the implementation plans, we will take account of feedback shared during the consultation and look at how we can minimise any negative impacts.”

He added:

“We understand the concerns that communities have raised, particularly in relation to accessing services in a largely rural part of Wales. Our aim is to deliver better care across our healthcare system, and we remain committed to working with partners to reduce the impact on patients who may need to travel further.”

Health Board: Changes Needed for ‘Safe, Sustainable’ Services

Health bosses argue the changes are necessary to address long-standing staffing pressures and ensure care is “safe, sustainable, accessible, and kind.”

Dr Neil Wooding, Chair of Hywel Dda University Health Board, said:

“As a Health Board, our ambition is for people to live healthier lives for longer by supporting people to keep well and preventing ill health. The decisions made today help us to address some of the services that are the most fragile and need to change to be able to deliver healthcare that is safe, sustainable, accessible, and kind.”

He added:

“These decisions are not easy but as a Board we have a duty to ensure that our services provide the best outcomes for our patients and that they meet the highest standards.”

The health board confirmed the changes follow a public consultation in the summer of 2025 which received over 4,000 responses. The critical care changes (Option 246) were suggested by the community during the consultation process.

‘Second-Class Citizens’: Welsh Conservatives Slam Centralization

The move has been met with a furious backlash from the Welsh Conservatives, who have accused the health board of treating Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion residents like “second-class citizens.”

Peter Fox MS, the Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health, said:

“This will be concerning news for patients and families in Ceredigion and across mid and West Wales. Downgrading emergency general surgery services in the area will mean longer journeys for urgent care, increasing pressure on patients, families and ambulance services.”

Local Senedd Member Paul Davies MS said:

“I’m appalled that Hywel Dda University Health Board has voted to remove general emergency surgery services from Withybush hospital – but I’m not surprised. The Health Board is obsessed with removing services from Pembrokeshire and has spent years downgrading and removing services from Withybush hospital.”

He warned that removing the services “critically undermines the sustainability of Withybush hospital’s A&E department” and vowed to urge Welsh Government Ministers to intervene.

Samuel Kurtz MS added:

“Residents in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion are being treated like second class citizens, as it is always us in the West that has to see our services cut. The salami slicing of services is exactly what the Labour government have wanted, and the health board are delivering. This is a sad day, and residents will rightly be angry and concerned.”

Impact on Carmarthenshire Ambulance Services

The centralisation of services is also expected to place additional pressure on ambulance services operating in Carmarthenshire, as patients from Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, and Llanelli will need to be transported longer distances for emergency treatment.

What do you think of the changes? Will Glangwili be able to cope with the additional demand? Have your say below.

MS raises alarm over Pontyates GP closure as fears grow surgery is being “wound down”

Mr Waters said he has been contacted by a large number of residents who fear the village could lose its only GP surgery without a genuine attempt to save it. He has now written to the Chief Executive of Hywel Dda University Health Board demanding answers on recruitment, consultation and the future of primary care in the area.

In his letter, the MS said local people were “deeply concerned” that closure was being presented as inevitable rather than a last resort. He said patients had raised “serious and credible questions” about whether alternatives had been explored at all.

He also questioned the Health Board’s handling of staffing issues. Constituents, he said, had reported “no recent visible attempt” to recruit new GPs or partners, despite workforce shortages being cited as a key reason for shutting the surgery. Some patients claim expressions of interest from GPs were not followed up, and that roles such as practice manager were not properly advertised.

Mr Waters said these concerns “require clear and evidenced answers”.

The MS also challenged the rationale around the building itself. He said residents disputed claims about flooding risk and suitability, and questioned why alternative premises in the community had not been seriously considered.

In his Facebook post, Mr Waters said access to GP services “matters hugely in rural communities”, especially where public transport is limited and neighbouring practices are already under pressure.

He said patients and staff “deserve clear answers” and insisted that local voices must be properly heard before any final decision is made.

The letter calls on the Health Board to set out exactly what steps have been taken to retain GP provision in Pontyates, what alternatives to closure have been assessed, and how patient feedback will influence the outcome.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Residents step up fight to save Pontyates GP surgery
Campaigners say confidence in the Health Board’s process has collapsed as pressure grows locally.

Councillors say they’ve lost confidence in Health Board process
Local councillors raise concerns about transparency and the handling of the closure proposal.

Health Board launches eight‑week consultation
Hywel Dda opens a formal consultation as the future of the surgery remains uncertain.

Pontyates surgery gets temporary lifeline
A final decision is delayed, giving the community more time to make its case.

Councillors demand halt to closure plans
Elected members call for the process to be paused amid growing public concern.

Future of Pontyates GP surgery in doubt
The Health Board considers dispersing all 4,300 patients to neighbouring practices.

Consultant who called junior doctor ‘bad girl’ and grabbed her waist struck off after tribunal says he ‘treated women like sexual objects’

Dr Velmurugan Kuppuswamy — known as Dr Vel — was erased from the medical register after the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) found he carried out a pattern of sexually motivated behaviour towards two junior doctors, Dr A and Dr B, between August and October 2021.

The tribunal said his conduct “fell so far short of the standards of conduct reasonably to be expected of a doctor as to amount to serious misconduct”, and imposed an immediate suspension while erasure takes effect.

Waist‑grabbing, wrist‑squeezing and ‘bad girl’ comment

The tribunal found that at a staff accommodation party in September 2021, he hugged Dr A, touched her back, and “squeezed [her] waist”. He then grabbed her wrist, squeezed it, pulled her towards him, smirked, winked, and told her she was a “bad girl” after she joked about smoking being unhealthy.

In her evidence to the GMC, Dr A said she “felt exposed” and that his behaviour “felt so wrong”. She told police she tried to pull away and told him he was hurting her.

The tribunal accepted her account, noting she was a junior colleague and that the power imbalance made his behaviour even more serious.

‘Sexy dancing’ comments and touching near groin

The panel also found he stared at Dr B while she danced, told her to “keep doing that sexy dancing for me”, and later put his hand on her thigh before squeezing near her groin area.

He followed a group of female colleagues around the party and stared at them while they danced.

During a game of ping‑pong, he told the two women they should “use their chests as paddles” and said being “well‑endowed” was an advantage.

The tribunal concluded the behaviour was sexually motivated, saying:

“His behaviour, which involved multiple instances of unwanted physical touching, was sexually motivated.”

Tribunal rejects his claim of a conspiracy

Throughout the hearing, Dr Kuppuswamy insisted the allegations were fabricated as retaliation for what he described as “whistleblowing” about another doctor’s performance.

But the tribunal rejected this entirely, stating:

“The GMC evidence has firmly disproved that this had any relevance whatsoever… The Tribunal was satisfied that the Allegation was not a conspiracy.”

It also criticised his attempts to undermine the women’s credibility, calling his claims “unreliable, speculative” and “false”.

The panel noted he repeatedly referred to the junior doctors as “girls” and was “reluctant to accept” the power imbalance between a consultant and junior staff.

Previously struck off for dishonesty

The hearing heard that his name had been removed from the medical register once before, in 2012, after findings of dishonesty. He was restored in November 2020 — less than a year before the sexual harassment took place.

An apology letter submitted to the tribunal did not accept wrongdoing, instead apologising if anyone had “misinterpreted” his actions. The tribunal said this fell far short of demonstrating insight or remorse.

‘Failed to act with integrity’

In its final determination, the tribunal said:

“The public ought to be able to trust doctors to conduct themselves with integrity… [His] behaviour represented a significant breach of professional boundaries.”

It concluded he “failed to act with integrity” and that erasure was the only sanction that could protect public confidence.

He will be able to apply for restoration in five years.

Health board response

Hywel Dda University Health Board said it could not comment on individual staff but added:

“We have robust policies and procedures in place to ensure the safety of both staff and patients… We are committed to providing a safe, supportive environment.”

Residents step up fight to save Pontyates GP surgery as confidence in health board process collapses

The proposal emerged last month when the health board confirmed it was looking at dispersing the surgery’s 4,300 patients to practices in Kidwelly, Trimsaran and Pontyberem. The news spread quickly on social media, prompting a wave of concern across the Gwendraeth Valley.

Community forms working group as fears grow for vulnerable patients

A local working group has now been set up to coordinate the response. Resident Clare Treharne, who is leading the effort, said the proposal had “galvanised the whole community”, describing the surgery as a lifeline for people who rely on local access to healthcare. She said campaigners were going door‑to‑door and directing residents to a new website set up to share information.

Another resident, Jon‑Paul Hunter, who built the site, said people without cars could face taking two buses to reach alternative surgeries if Meddygfa’r Sarn closes. He warned that the plan risked leaving vulnerable patients cut off from routine care.

Campaigners also point to Hywel Dda’s own modelling, which suggests Coalbrook Surgery in Pontyberem could see its patient list rise by around 60% under the proposal. They say that level of pressure would affect both existing patients and those transferred from Pontyates.

The village pharmacy, Harlow & Knowles, is supporting the campaign and is distributing copies of the petition and a patient survey.

Councillors say they have ‘lost all confidence’ in the process

Tensions escalated earlier this week when local councillors issued a statement saying they had “lost all confidence” in Hywel Dda’s engagement process. The criticism followed an online briefing on 12 February, during which councillors said the health board showed little willingness to consider alternatives.

Their concerns echo issues raised in recent weeks across the Gwendraeth, where residents have repeatedly questioned whether the engagement exercise is meaningful. The health board has launched an eight‑week engagement period, which runs until April, before the board considers the issue in May.

Health board says no decision has been made

Hywel Dda says no final decision has been taken on the future of Meddygfa’r Sarn. Andrew Carruthers, Chief Operating Officer at Hywel Dda University Health Board, said the board recognised the strength of feeling locally and understood concerns about trust in the process.

He said the engagement period was designed to gather feedback before any decision is made, adding that the recommendation to disperse patients came from the Vacant Practice Panel because of “ongoing challenges in sustaining the practice”, including difficulties securing long‑term clinical cover.

Carruthers said the health board welcomed the involvement of local councillors and was committed to listening to residents over the coming weeks. He said all feedback would be “fully and fairly considered” before the board meets in May.

Campaigners vow to keep fighting

Campaigners say they will continue to oppose the closure and want the health board to work with the community “in good faith” rather than, in their view, presenting the proposal as a foregone conclusion. They say the next few weeks will be crucial as the engagement period continues.

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.

Health board launches eight‑week consultation as future of Pontyates GP surgery hangs in the balance

The move comes after months of community anger, political pressure and repeated warnings from residents that losing Meddygfa’r Sarn would be a “massive blow” to the village. The health board had been expected to make a final decision last month, but delayed the vote following a fierce backlash and calls from councillors to halt the closure plans.

Now, officials say they want to “listen carefully” before deciding whether to press ahead with the recommendation to shut the practice and transfer patients to surgeries in Pontyberem, Kidwelly or Llanelli.

The engagement period runs from 9 February to 6 April, with questionnaires being posted to every household and drop‑in events planned in Pontyates and Pontyberem.

Hywel Dda says the surgery has faced “ongoing and significant staffing challenges” for years and currently has no permanently employed GPs. The building itself is described as small, outdated and offering “limited facilities”.

In October, the health board convened a Vacant Practice Panel — a process used when a GP practice can no longer sustain itself — which concluded that dispersing the patient list was the “most sustainable long‑term solution”.

But the proposal has sparked deep concern in the Amman Gwendraeth area, where residents say the surgery is a lifeline for older people, those without transport and families who rely on being able to see a doctor locally.

Local councillors have repeatedly urged the health board to rethink, warning that neighbouring practices are already under pressure and that dispersal could leave vulnerable patients travelling miles for care.

In a statement launching the engagement period, Andrew Carruthers, Chief Operating Officer at Hywel Dda, acknowledged the strength of feeling.

“We understand the impact this proposed change has had on the local community in Pontyates and so we want to listen carefully to the views of those most affected,” he said.

“Your feedback will help us explore what support may be needed and will inform the Board when it considers the recommendation in May.”

Residents can return paper questionnaires to Meddygfa’r Sarn or Pontyates Community Pharmacy, complete the survey online, or attend one of two public drop‑in sessions:

Tuesday 24 February, 1pm–6.30pm, Pontyates Welfare Hall
Tuesday 3 March, 3pm–6pm, Pontyberem Memorial Hall

Feedback can also be submitted by phone or email by emailing [email protected], and Llais — the statutory patient voice body — is gathering views separately.

All responses will be presented to the health board ahead of its meeting on 28 May, when the future of the surgery will finally be decided.

For now, Meddygfa’r Sarn remains open as usual — but the community knows the clock is ticking.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Pontyates surgery gets temporary lifeline
Health board delays its final decision after community pressure.

Councillors demand halt to closure plans
Local representatives call for a pause as concerns grow.

Community backlash grows over surgery’s future
Residents warn closure would be a “massive blow” to the village.

Future of Pontyates GP surgery in doubt
Health board considers dispersing all 4,300 patients to other practices.

Pontyates surgery gets temporary lifeline as health board delays final decision

Hywel Dda confirmed today that it will not immediately adopt a recommendation from its Vacant Practice Panel to close the Pontyates site and disperse all 4,350 patients to neighbouring practices. Instead, the Board said it will “hear the views of patients and the local community” before making a final decision in May.

The recommendation to close the surgery was first set out by the Vacant Practice Panel, which Hywel Dda convened in October 2025 “in line with national guidance” to review long‑term options for Meddygfa’r Sarn. According to the health board, the panel examined continued health board management, mergers with neighbouring practices, procuring a new provider, and managed dispersal. Hywel Dda said the panel concluded that dispersal “offered the most sustainable long‑term solution”.

The Board discussed that recommendation at its meeting on Thursday but agreed to pause the process and begin an eight‑week engagement period from Monday 9 February to Monday 6 April. Hywel Dda said the purpose is to understand “the potential impacts” of the proposal and what support may be needed if the closure goes ahead.

Andrew Carruthers, Chief Operating Officer at Hywel Dda University Health Board, said the Board had a duty to ensure patients could access “safe, high‑quality and sustainable GP services”.

“We recognise that this recommendation may mean significant change for patients and communities, which is why it is essential that we take the time to listen before making a final decision,” he said. “The engagement period will allow people to share their views, ask questions, and help inform the Board’s decision in May.”

Hywel Dda said no changes will take place during the engagement period and stressed that Meddygfa’r Sarn “will continue as normal”. The health board also thanked the community for the support shown to staff during what it described as “a period of change”.

The health board said patients, staff and stakeholders will be able to attend public drop‑in events during the engagement period, with dates to be announced shortly. Patients will also receive letters explaining how to take part, and a survey will be available online and in paper form from 9 February.

Meddygfa’r Sarn has been directly managed by Hywel Dda since 2017, after the former GP partners resigned their contract. The health board said the practice has faced “ongoing and significant staffing challenges” and currently has no permanently employed GPs. It also described the Pontyates building as “small” with “limited facilities”.

If the panel’s recommendation is ultimately approved, Hywel Dda said patients would be transferred to the nearest suitable practice, including Coalbrook Surgery in Pontyberem, Meddygfa Minafon in Kidwelly, and for some patients, practices in Llanelli.

The announcement follows months of public pressure, with councillors and residents previously warning that closing the Pontyates site would be a “massive blow” to the village and surrounding communities.

Hywel Dda said further information about the engagement process will be shared in the coming days.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Councillors demand halt to Pontyates GP surgery closure plans as pressure mounts on Hywel Dda
Local representatives urged the health board to pause its proposals, warning of serious consequences for the community.

Community backlash grows as residents warn closure of Pontyates GP surgery would be a ‘massive blow’
Residents voiced fears over losing vital local healthcare and the impact on vulnerable patients.

Future of Pontyates GP surgery in doubt as health board considers dispersing all 4,300 patients
Hywel Dda first confirmed it was reviewing long‑term options for Meddygfa’r Sarn amid staffing challenges.

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.

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.

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.

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Future of Pontyates GP surgery in doubt as health board considers dispersing all 4,300 patients

A report going before the Board on Thursday 29 January recommends that the surgery’s entire patient list should be broken up and transferred elsewhere from 30 June 2026, ending almost a decade of the health board running the practice.

If approved, thousands of people in Pontyates would be automatically moved to other surgeries based on where they live, with most expected to be sent to Coalbrook Surgery in Pontyberem, Meddygfa Minafon in Kidwelly, or practices in Llanelli.

A surgery too small, too cramped — and sitting in a flood zone

The Board paper paints a stark picture of the Pontyates building. It describes a surgery that is simply too small for the number of patients it serves, with every room already in use and no space to expand. Staff have no proper break room, often relying on borrowed space elsewhere in the village.

The building sits at the bottom of the valley, in an area officially classed as a Natural Resources Wales flood zone. The car park and surrounding land have flooded before, leaving the surgery cut off, with staff unable to get in or out.

A recent Health & Safety inspection found exposed pipework, inadequate electrical points, missing downpipes, and no emergency lighting outside. The lease on the building runs out in October 2026, adding further pressure to find a long‑term solution.

No permanent GPs and rising costs

The report confirms that Meddygfa’r Sarn has no permanent doctors at all. The practice is now entirely dependent on locums, with the health board struggling to attract salaried GPs despite repeated attempts.

Running the surgery costs more than £1 million a year, with almost half of that spent on locum GP sessions alone. The panel reviewing the practice’s future said this level of reliance on temporary doctors is not sustainable and does not provide the continuity of care patients deserve.

What it means for people in Pontyates

For local residents, the impact could be significant. The nearest alternative practice, Coalbrook Surgery in Pontyberem, is three miles away, and public transport is limited, with only eight buses a day between the two villages. Some patients may have to travel even further, to Kidwelly or Llanelli, depending on their postcode.

Older patients, those without cars, and families juggling work and childcare could face longer journeys for appointments and reduced access to care if the dispersal goes ahead.

Why the panel wants dispersal

A Vacant Practice Panel met in October 2025 to examine four options: keeping Sarn as a standalone practice, merging it with Meddygfa Minafon, finding a new provider, or dispersing the patient list.

The panel ruled out keeping the surgery open, saying the combination of premises issues, workforce shortages, and rising costs made it unviable. A merger with Minafon would create a huge 13,000‑patient practice spread across multiple sites, which the panel felt would bring its own problems. Procuring a new provider was considered too risky and unlikely to solve the building issues.

Dispersal emerged as the only option the panel believed could guarantee long‑term stability for patients. Coalbrook Surgery has already told the health board it is keen to grow its list, which strengthened the case for transferring patients there.

“We have a duty to ensure safe and sustainable care”

Andrew Carruthers, Chief Operating Officer at Hywel Dda, said the Board would give the recommendation careful consideration.

He said Meddygfa’r Sarn had struggled to provide the continuity of care the health board wanted for patients, and that dispersal may be the best way to ensure people in the area receive reliable, high‑quality GP services.

Andrew Carruthers, said:

“As a health board we have a duty to ensure safe, sustainable and high-quality delivery of General Medical Services for our population. 

“Meddygfa’r Sarn is a small and rural practice and has struggled to provide the level of continuity of care and services we would like for our patients. The panel felt that dispersing the patient list is the best way forward to ensure that patients have access to the best possible care and the Board will give careful consideration to this recommendation.

“If the recommendation of the Vacant Practice Panel is approved, the health board is committed to engaging with patients, staff, local communities and stakeholders before any changes are implemented to understand how the change could impact them and consider any mitigations needed.”

If the Board approves the recommendation, the health board says it will carry out full engagement with patients, staff and the local community before any changes are made.

No final decision yet

The Board will discuss the proposal on 29 January, with a seven‑week public engagement period planned if the recommendation is approved.

For now, the future of Pontyates’ only GP surgery remains uncertain — and thousands of local patients face the possibility of being moved to new practices by the summer.

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Mask up! Hywel Dda clamps down as flu cases surge

From today (Thursday 11 December), Hywel Dda University Health Board says everyone entering clinical or patient‑facing areas must wear a mask — whether you’re a nurse, porter, visitor or attending an appointment.

The move comes as cases of flu and respiratory viruses continue to climb, echoing warnings we reported earlier about the sharp rise in flu admissions across the region.

“We need to act now”

Sharon Daniel, Director of Nursing, Quality and Patient Experience, said:

“We are seeing a growing number of people with flu and other respiratory viruses needing our care and need to take this proactive step to limit the spread.”

She urged visitors to stay away if they’re unwell, and to wait at least 48 hours after symptoms of flu, colds, sickness or diarrhoea have cleared before coming to hospital.

What the new rules mean for patients and visitors

For anyone heading into hospital or community sites across west Wales, the change will be immediately noticeable. Masks are now compulsory in all clinical areas — whether you’re a nurse on shift, a porter passing through, or a visitor attending an appointment. Supplies will be available at entrances and inside wards, so people won’t be turned away for not bringing their own.

At this stage, visiting remains permitted, but health chiefs have warned that restrictions could be introduced at short notice if flu and virus levels continue to rise. The message is clear: the situation is being monitored closely, and further measures are not off the table.

Wider public health message

Behind the mask mandate lies a broader appeal to communities. Officials are urging people to think twice before visiting if they’re feeling unwell, and to give themselves at least 48 hours symptom‑free before stepping onto hospital grounds. The aim is to protect vulnerable patients and keep staff healthy enough to deliver care.

There’s also a renewed push on the basics — regular hand‑washing with soap and warm water, and taking up the offer of flu, RSV and COVID‑19 vaccinations where eligible. Health leaders say these simple steps can make a big difference in easing pressure on services during the busiest time of year.

Sharon added:

“A simple way to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe and well this winter is to have a flu vaccination. Thank you to our communities, our patients, and our staff for all your support in looking after one another.”

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Former carer with terminal cancer urges families to talk about end of life

Diane Thomas cared for her late mum, Doreen, who had vascular dementia, after moving her from Yorkshire into her home in 2021. Just six weeks later she discovered the lump. Her mum died earlier this year, and Diane has since been told she has stage 4 cancer.

With support from Marie Curie’s 2Ts Advance and Future Care Planning service, Diane has prepared an advance care plan, power of attorney and do not resuscitate form.

Planning ahead with Marie Curie

The service, funded by the Tywi Taf Primary Care Cluster of Hywel Dda University Health Board, involves a senior nurse working with GP surgeries and care homes in the area. It helps people draft advance care plans, allowing them to think about, prepare and plan for their future care and end of life.

Marie Curie says many people in Wales are underprepared for the final chapter of life. A recent survey found almost a third (28%) have not given it any thought, while nearly 4 in 10 (38%) do not put plans down on paper. More than a third (33.7%) fear talking about end of life planning, while one in three (33.6%) believe they have plenty of time to arrange plans.

Diane’s story

Diane said:

“It’s important to me to have all this in place, so my children know and understand what I want. It was hard watching my mum, because she lived here with me, and I’ve also seen it with other members of my late husband’s family. I’ve seen them going on and getting less able to do things, and I don’t want to be like that.”

In August, Diane saw a doctor at Priory Grove, Carmarthen, where her daughter works, and received confirmation of her prognosis. She was then put in touch with Diane Milner, Marie Curie Senior Nurse at the 2Ts Advance and Future Care Planning service.

Professional voices

Diane Milner, who was a district nurse for 32 years, said:

“Advance care planning (ACP) is for everyone, at any stage of life, and helps people to think about, prepare and plan for their future care and end of life. It helps people to discuss and decide what is important to them, as well as sharing wishes with others. It means loved ones know what you want if you ever can’t speak for yourself.”

Dr Kerry Phillips, Tywi Taf Cluster Lead and GP Partner at Meddygfa Taf, added:

“This service is an important opportunity for anyone to record their future care wishes so that if the need arises, your expressed wishes are followed.”

Jill Paterson, Director of Primary Care, Community and Long‑Term Care at Hywel Dda University Health Board, said:

“Advance and Future Care Planning is a vital part of ensuring people’s wishes are understood and respected. The work Marie Curie is doing with the Tywi Taf Cluster is helping individuals and families have these important conversations, often at very difficult times.”

Support available

Marie Curie supports people with any illness they are likely to die from, including dementia, heart, liver, kidney and lung disease, motor neurone disease, Parkinson’s, and advanced cancer. The charity provides expert care and support in people’s homes, in its hospices and over the phone via its free Information & Support helpline.

In Wales, the My Life, My Wishes document exists across all health board areas to support people with planning for their care at end of life. Marie Curie also offers an End of Life list on its website, a practical checklist curated by clinicians to help people prepare across five categories: legal and money matters; people, pets and things important to me; advance care plan; funeral or celebration of life; and making and leaving behind memories.

For more information about Advance Care Planning, contact: [email protected]

#BreastCancer #Cancer #Carmarthen #EndOfLifeCare #HywelDdaHealthBoard #HywelDdaUniversityHealthBoard #MarieCurie #TywiTafPrimaryCareCluster