Reassurance Offered After Concerns Over Pen Y Maes Health Centre

The local health board say they are ‘working hard to rebuild the GP team’ at a local health centre after several patients voiced their concern after being unable to book appointments.

In September Wrexham.com reported that ‘temporary changes’ to appointments at Pen Y Maes Health Centre, Summerhill, were to come into force while the management of the facility changes hands.

As part of the changes a sign was displayed in the health centre advising patients that they would not be able to prebook appointments while the transition period was underway.

The temporary changes come as a result of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board taking over Pen Y Maes at the start of October after the long-serving GPs at the Pen Y Maes announced they would be ‘terminating their contract‘ at the start of year.

However concerns over the current system have been raised by some patients after they were unable to book at GP appointment last week. Others have said they are considering changing to a new health centre.

However the Health Board have offered assurances that a new lead GP has been appointed to the surgery.

Wrexham.com queried with the Health Board if there were any details on how many doctors are currently available at the surgery and when the rotas will be finalised.

We also asked if there was any indication on when patients will be able to book appointments in advance.

A spokesman for the Health Board said: “We are working hard to rebuild the GP team at Pen y Maes surgery. We have appointed a lead GP to oversee the day-to-day running of the surgery, who will start next week, and we remain committed to recruiting more GPs on a full time basis.

“In the meantime we are employing locum GPs and other health professionals to maintain clinical cover.

“We hope to reintroduce advanced bookings at the practice in the coming weeks. We also want to thank practice users for their patience during this transitional period.”