A surgery in Wales says it will have to close if it fails to recruit family doctors. Borth Surgery in Ceredigion says it has been trying to attract doctors for several years and has done “everything possible to make the practice viable”.

The surgery said it was “with a heavy heart” that the doctors working there announced that the surgery would have to close if it could not recruit more general practitioners. A statement posted on the surgery’s Facebook page said one of the doctors now works one day a week caring for diabetics, while the other doctor works in his spare time.

Another doctor “would do the rest with the support of other medical professionals”, but said the surgery was not feasible, adding that the “ship was sinking”. The post continues: “We have been looking for new GPs for several years now and some GPs have taken an interest only to find out in the end that they have decided to go elsewhere. Now it’s happened again.”

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The surgery, which is looking for GPs, urged people to share a link to the job posting with anyone who might be interested. Although the surgery said pharmacists, nurses and medical assistants had joined the practice, they could not work without the full-time supervision of a general practitioner.

The practice, which opened in 1995, has also explored merging with other local practices, but says it has not been successful. Instead, he formed a federation with other local practices, which he says allowed them to become a GP training practice and run four other practices.

According to government statistics, one in five general practices in Wales has closed in the last ten years. As of June 2022, there are 386 active GPs in Wales. This is down from 474 in 2012. The number of GPs in Wales has increased from 2015 in 2012 to 2,301 in 2022. However, Wales has more GPs practicing in larger offices in larger cities.

Surgery said: “We have been working with the board of health to try to find a solution for a number of years and will continue to do so. In short, we did our best to continue and make the practice viable. However, without general practitioners, who have to sign a contract with the hospital to provide general medicine services, none of this is possible and the practice will have to be closed”, reads the message.

“General practices across the UK face the same challenges; however, it affects GPs’ rural practices and the communities they most serve. When it’s over, it’s over.” Jill Paterson, director of primary, community and long-term care for the Hywel Dda University Board of Health, said: “The board of health continues to work closely with Borth Surgery and is supporting the practice in their efforts to recruit new GPs.

Source: Wales Online