A SHOCK decision to slash the opening hours of a GP surgery has prompted a council to explore how it can be appealed.
The GP surgery in Magor closed in the afternoons in early August, reducing its opening hours from around 34.5 a week to just 20, and forcing residents to make a nine mile round trip to the main surgery in Caldicot if they need to see a doctor or health professional.
Monmouthshire County Council has now agreed to write to Gwent’s Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, NHS Wales and patients’ watchdog Llais for clarification on how an appeal against the decision, by the privately run practice, can be made.
Magor West councillor Frances Taylor said she only learned of the reduced opening hours “by complete accident” and told the council: “It appears the health board considers a change in hours to be a ‘minor change’ and there wasn’t any engagement with wider stakeholders or local councillors.”
The independent councillor said she has since learned there had been a four week consultation but said: “I’ve yet to find more than a handful of people who were aware of the consultation.”
She warned the reduction in hours was the “thin end of the wedge” and asked councillors to back her call for action on appeal and for further details to be presented and to recognise the “significant concern” of local residents.
The health board has since “recognised the value and importance” engagement with local representatives and will update its policy for future changes.
Magor East with Undy Labour councillor John Crook said: “I’ve not met a single person yet who knew about it.”
He said it was “already quite difficult to make an appointment” at the surgery and he had since met with the head partner of the practice.
Armand Watts, Labour councillor for Bulwark and Thornwell, said the council should keep pressure on the health board: I don’t want to go down memory lane but you will remember the cynical consultation over the close of the minor injuries unit and loss of the dementia unit.
The motion was supported unanimously.