People who live in Penarth are concerned about plans to close two GP surgeries in the town.
The Cardiff and Vale University Health Board wants to close Redlands Road surgery and Station Road surgery and open a new facility at Penarth Leisure Centre.
The new surgery would be a 40 minute walk away from both existing surgeries and people in the area say it’s too far for them to walk to.
91 year-old Jack Thompson visits his surgery every two weeks: “I’m concerned about the service I might get. You get to know your doctor and if you’re going to make the new surgery much bigger there won’t be that closeness of contact between patients and doctors.”
Ian Johnson is the Vice-Chairman of the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s Healthy Living and Social Care Scrutiny Committee.
He says the Council has agreed to the plans in principle but says he wants the plans to be discussed in the Scrutiny Committee: “The main concerns that people have are regarding the fact that it will be further for them to visit their GP. They will be asking why the facilities at the current GP surgeries are not of a strong enough quality that they can survive.”
“My concern is simply to get the best deal for local residents so that they get the best possible health care”.
“The trade-off from a new facility is that it might be further but is it better? That’s the question that people have to ask themselves as to whether they think that trade-off is worth it.”
The Cardiff and Vale University Health Board have been approached for comment.
