Posted: Mon 23rd Apr 2018

Hundreds sign petition opposing proposed closure of Gresford Health Centre as date announced for public meeting

Wrexham.com for people living in or visiting the Wrexham area
This article is old - Published: Monday, Apr 23rd, 2018

A public meeting has been arranged for residents of Gresford and Marford to voice their concerns
about the proposed relocation of local GP services.

Last week it was announced that ‘transfer of GP services’ from Gresford Health Centre to Rossett Surgery and Llay Health Centre has been proposed by Alyn Family Doctors.

The practice currently provides services across the three sites, however a letter distributed to patients last week said: “We are sorry to announce that we are applying to the Betsi Cadwaladar University Health Board to consider a proposal to transfer all GP services at Gresford health centre to Rossett Surgery and Llay Health Centre.

“Apart from location your services will be unaffected and likely enhanced. We feel this change is required to secure long term sustainable and viability of the practice and to maintain a safe, effective and quality service.

A consultation process until May 14th 2018 is now underway, with patients urged to have their say.

Hundreds of people have signed a petition to ‘save Gresford Doctors Surgery and associated services from closure’, which is less than 10 signatures short of its 500 target at the time of writing.

A public meeting has also been organised for 7:30pm on Thursday 10th May at Gresford Trust Memorial Hall, for residents of Gresford and Marford to voice their concerns about the proposals.

The meeting has been organised by Gresford Councillor Andrew Atkinson and Marford Councillor Russell Gilmartin who, along with Mark Isherwood AM, have requested that the health board send a representative next month.

The meeting residents of their wards had initially been organised to raise their concerns with the original plan that questions could be put directly to the practice partners. However it has since been confirmed that a representative from Alyn Family Doctors will not be in attendance.

Cllr Atkinson said: “We’re both disappointed that the practice partners have declined to attend the meeting, we wanted an opportunity for our residents to hear directly from them about their plans.

“The meeting will go ahead anyway so that we can collate questions to put to the practice partners following the meeting and so that we can organise our approach to this as a community.”

He added: “We welcome any assistance our AM and MP wish to give us with our campaign and are sure we’d benefit from their assistance due to their connections with colleagues in the Welsh Government.”

Over the weekend a letter delivery to residents informing them of the meeting was also carried out.

Cllr Gilmartin commented: “Cllr Atkinson and I are deeply disappointed that the practice put up information posters and displayed information in the surgery without having written to all patients first as requested.

“This has meant that the news has broken with more confusion and uncertainty and we have subsequently decided that we will write to all of our constituents to inform them ourselves and invite them to the public meeting.”

Wrexham’s MP and Assembly Member are also calling on residents to take part in the consultation process and make their opinions heard.

Lesley Griffiths AM said: “Alyn Family Doctors provide an excellent service to people in Gresford, Llay and Rossett so I can fully understand why local residents are concerned by the proposed changes.”

“Constituents have contacted me this week and I have written to Alyn Family Doctors and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board on their behalf.

“The Practice has outlined their reasons for putting forward this proposal but, as explained in their letter, it is vitally important residents from Gresford, as well as the surrounding areas, take part in the consultation before the 14th May deadline.

“The results of the consultation will be presented to the local Health Board which will ultimately make the final decision so the more people participate, the better.”

Ian Lucas MP commented: “Gresford people cannot understand a proposal to reduce health service provision in their expanding community and are very upset.

“Now is the time to communicate the strength of feeling to Alyn Family Doctors and the local Health Board so that we can find a constructive alternative way forward which enhances, not lessens, provision in Gresford.”

Residents can respond to the consultation as follows:

– Complete a feedback form available in all Alyn Family Doctors surgeries and hand deliver
– Post feedback to the surgery for attention of Sue Roberts, Practice Manager
– Email views to [email protected]

Alternatively, people can contact the independent Community Health Council in confidence as follows:

Email: [email protected]
Address: Mrs Carol Williams, North Wales Community Health Council, 11 Llys Castan, Ffordd Y Parc, Parc Menai, Bangor, LL57 4FH
Telephone: 01248 679284 (Ext. 3)

If Gresford or Marford residents would like more information or wish to get involved in the campaign they are encouraged to contact the two councillors.

You can sign the petition to ‘Save Gresford Doctors Surgery and associated services from closure’ here.

 



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