The “Cwtsho’r Sarn” event – meaning “hug the surgery” in Welsh – will see residents encircle Meddygfa’r Sarn at 3.30pm on 24 February to demonstrate how much the facility means to the community.
The solidarity event has been deliberately scheduled to coincide with Hywel Dda University Health Board’s drop-in session at the nearby Memorial Hall, where officials will listen to patients’ concerns about the proposed closure.
Christine MacTavish, who has been a patient at Meddygfa’r Sarn since 1982, said:
“We want to show Hywel Dda how much we value our surgery and the staff that work there.”
The campaign has gathered remarkable momentum since residents launched a fresh fight to save the surgery earlier this month, with more than 1,000 people signing a Senedd petition in just three weeks.
Organisers hope supporters will attend both the Cwtsho’r Sarn event and the subsequent Hywel Dda drop-in session.
“We want residents to tell the Health Board how vital the surgery is to them and how difficult it will be for vulnerable people to access health care if the closure goes ahead,”
said campaign group leader Clare Treharne.
Campaigners say Hywel Dda may have underestimated the strength of feeling locally, with residents angry that the Health Board appears to have had initial discussions with third parties and made plans for closure before informing patients.
David Priest, a founder member of the group and a resident in the area since the 1970s, said:
“Residents are well informed and know the history of their surgery better than officials and are ready to robustly challenge the rationale for closure and expose its flaws.”
The online petition, which runs until 1 March, will be considered by the Petitions Committee of the Senedd in their meeting in early March. Alongside the petition, the campaign group will submit detailed written evidence challenging the case for closure made by the Health Board.
Clare Treharne added:
“Many of the reasons cited by Hywel Dda do not stand up to scrutiny and we feel that some are deliberately misleading. We have highlighted these in our evidence to the committee and we very much hope that members will recommend that the Health Board reconsider its plans.”
The campaign has already secured significant political support, with Llanelli MS Lee Waters raising alarm over fears the surgery is being “wound down” before any final decision has been made.
Local councillors have also said they’ve “lost all confidence” in the Health Board’s process and formally demanded a halt to the closure plans.
The future of Meddygfa’r Sarn was first thrown into doubt in January when Hywel Dda announced it was considering dispersing all 4,300 patients to other practices.
The Health Board launched an eight-week consultation in February after delaying a final decision following intense community pressure.
Residents have warned that losing the surgery would be a “massive blow” to Pontyates and surrounding villages, with vulnerable and elderly patients facing significantly worse access to healthcare.
