Pontyates GP surgery: have your say on plan to merge with Kidwelly practice

Hywel Dda University Health Board is asking patients and residents what they think of a proposal to merge the patient list of Meddygfa'r Sarn in Pontyates with Meddygfa Minafon in Kidwelly. The engagement runs from Monday 2 November to Sunday 29 November 2026. No final decision has been made.

What is being proposed

The Health Board says a Vacant Practice Panel has recommended the merger as the most sustainable way to keep services going in Pontyates. Under the proposal Meddygfa'r Sarn would be open every weekday from 9am to 3pm, with GP surgeries and nurse clinics running daily. After 3pm, urgent appointments that cannot wait until the next day would be provided in Kidwelly. Meddygfa Minafon would stay open 8am to 6.30pm and the Trimsaran branch surgery 9am to 4pm.

Why it is back for views

This is the second phase of engagement. An earlier recommendation was that the practice list should be dispersed to neighbouring practices. The Health Board says feedback highlighted how much the community values GP services in Pontyates, and the new proposal responds to that.

How to have your say

People can complete the online questionnaire on the Health Board's Have Your Say website, email ask.hdd@wales.nhs.uk, return a paper questionnaire to the boxes at Meddygfa'r Sarn, Meddygfa Minafon and Trimsaran Surgery, call the Communications Hub on 0300 303 8322 (option 5), or give feedback through Llais. A drop-in event runs from 1.30pm to 6.30pm on Friday 20 November at Pontyates Welfare Hall, Heol y Meinciau, SA15 5TR. An online event follows on Tuesday 24 November at 6.30pm; email hyweldda.engagement@wales.nhs.uk for the link.

What happens next

A report is expected to go to the Health Board in January 2027. Andrew Carruthers, the Health Board's Chief Operating Officer, said the proposal "aims to support a more sustainable model for delivering local GP services while retaining access for patients in the community".