HEALTH chiefs have moved to reassure patients they will still have access to local GP services with the closure of surgeries at Cardigan and Llandysul early next year.

Ashleigh Surgery at Cardigan is set to close on February 28, with Teifi Surgery closing on January 31, leaving 10,000 patients concerned over future healthcare provision.

A recent drop-in session organised by Hywel Dda health board at Llandysul to discuss patients’ concerns was attended by more than 500 people.

A similar event is being planned in Cardigan on Tuesday, November 20 at The Guildhall, between 2pm-7pm.

Jill Paterson, director of primary care, community and long term care at Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “We wish to reassure patients that no-one will be without access to GP services.

“Patients will be allocated to a GP practice based on their home address, the practice boundaries and a need to ensure that practice allocations provide stable services for the future.

“We will soon be in a position to inform patients individually by letter about their allocation which we hope will allay any further anxiety.

“If a patient is unhappy with the practice they have been allocated to, they will have an opportunity to appeal and may be reallocated where appropriate and within the constraints above.

“We are continuing to work with the practices involved and, in the meantime, can confirm that Teifi Surgery will remain open as normal until 31 January, 2019.

“It’s encouraging that so many attended the recent drop-in event to talk to us about their concerns; the feedback we have received shows that the majority (81 per cent) of those who completed an evaluation questionnaire felt the event was ‘good, very good or excellent’.

“A further public engagement event in the locality may be held later in the year and we are continuing to discuss this approach with the Community Health Council."