Clear Way Forward Now Vital From Health Board

A clear strategic direction is required as a matter of urgency from the Local Health Board, says RCT Leader, Cllr Andrew Morgan. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This comes following the news that Horeb Surgery in Treorchy will no longer operate as a result of the inability to attract a new GP to take over the practice. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

County Borough Councillor Andrew Morgan, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council said: “I recently took the opportunity to raise my concerns around the delivery of primary health care across Rhondda Cynon Taf in a meeting with Ministers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The UK-wide GP recruitment difficulties means that GP services across RCT are being impacted upon. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I completely recognise that these are factors outside the control of our local University Health Board, but what is now required is a clear strategic plan to address this, and future proof the delivery of primary health services across Rhondda Cynon Taf in the short to medium term. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The news this week that Horeb Surgery in Treorchy will close as a result of GP recruitment issues is yet another example of how operational delivery of primary health services needs to change to ensure effective and easy access to health provision continues to be offered in RCT. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I am aware of a number of pressure points across RCT, particularly within my own area of Mountain Ash and Mid Rhondda and Western Taff Ely, which makes clear to me that a step change is required in how this is approached both nationally and locally. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We need to think outside the box to take the local delivery of primary health care forward and I will shortly be meeting with the Chairman of the University Health Board and their Chief Executive to ensure they fully understand the concerns and opinions residents and Councillors are making clear to me; positive action is required. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I will be inviting the University Health Board to attend a meeting of the Full Council to address the immediate concerns all Councillors are receiving from their constituents and I will be pushing for a joined- up approach to this huge issue to become a key priority for the newly formed Public Service Board. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“If the Health Board can describe a clear vision for how primary care will be delivered into the future, the public is far more likely to be understanding of the immediate difficulties being experienced and to work with the NHS locally to positively reshape our Primary Care services. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I personally want to see action from the Health Board to start sharing the vision for the future of Primary Care in this area over the coming months.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​