THE NEW combined Fishguard and Goodwick Health Centre was officially opened last week as patients from both surgeries were invited to come and look around the new facility.

Goodwick surgery closed on Friday, March 1. The surgery was managed by the health board after the retirement of GP, Dr Van Kempen in 2015.

The surgery's last remaining GP resigned in December 2016. The practice was then run using a telephone triage system and locum GPs.

Despite extensive advertisement of a GP vacancy offering a salary of £84,000 in 2017, the health board did not receive a single application.

It was decided early last year to close the surgery and amalgamate it with Fishguard. In August health secretary, Vaughan Gething, confirmed £646,000 funding to refurbish Fishguard Health Centre, creating two additional treatment rooms and an integrated health centre.

The two surgeries joined on March 4 with many of the staff from Goodwick Surgery transferring to Fishguard Health Centre to join the team.

An open evening was held at Fishguard Health Centre on Wednesday, March where patients were invited to drop in to see the renovated health centre and to meet the expanded team.

"We would like to extend a warm welcome to patients joining our practice," said GP partner, Dr Mann.

"While we anticipate a significant increase in clinical workload for the practice, Fishguard Surgery has been building the GP team ahead of the amalgamation.

"All patients attending for pre-booked appointments at Fishguard will be able to use the arrivals self check-in screen which will be located in the waiting area."

"Patients looking for advice or treatment for common ailments are asked to consult their local pharmacist in the first instance. We ask all patients to consider which service is most appropriate to meet their specific needs."

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

"I would like to thank everyone who has been involved with this development over the past few months. The establishment of a single practice in this area will create a stronger more sustainable solution for the provision of primary care and community services.

"The renovations to the Fishguard Health Centre premises will also provide a better working environment for staff, improve patient experience and is more conducive to the development of the wider multidisciplinary team that is central to the delivery of primary care."