08/10/2026
SAVE SARN SURGERY – UPDATE
We now understand that, despite the Health Board’s procurement process to find a new GP partnership for Meddygfa’r Sarn, no GP partnership has come forward to take on the surgery.
Obviously, this is disappointing, but we think it’s important to ask why.
Throughout this process we have raised concerns about the procurement process itself. We have found the information provided to be complicated, confusing and, at times, contradictory, particularly around finances and staffing. We also feel there has been a lack of clear ownership of the process.
We are particularly concerned about the staffing numbers that potential applicants were told they would have to take on. We have reason to believe these figures may not accurately reflect the staff actually working at Sarn Surgery.
If that is the case, it raises some pretty important questions. Were potential applicants given accurate and consistent information? Did the staffing figures accurately reflect the situation at Sarn? And could the way the procurement was put together have discouraged potential applicants?
We aren’t making accusations or saying that we have all the answers. But these are reasonable questions, and we believe the Health Board should answer them.
We also need to say something about communication.
We understand that members of the Health Board follow this group, so if you are reading this, please pass it on to the appropriate people.
Our community has still not received any official communication from the Health Board about the outcome of the procurement process.
We were told that the community would be kept informed, yet once again we have been left trying to piece together information ourselves.
We think the patients and community deserve to be told what has happened, why no partnership has been secured and, most importantly, what happens next.
And we want to be absolutely clear about something:
A failed procurement process should not automatically mean the closure of Sarn Surgery.
The need for a surgery in Pontyates hasn’t disappeared.
Nothing has changed since we produced our Independent Review Report. The transport difficulties are still there. The rural nature of our community is still the same. The needs of our patients haven’t changed. Kidwelly and Pontyberem surgeries are still in no position to be taking on a massive influx of patients from the Sarn surgery.
We are therefore asking the Health Board to look at other options.
Could Sarn continue as a managed practice, while the Health Board carries out a proper recruitment drive?
Could there be a renewed attempt to recruit a Practice Manager at Sarn to help make the practice more sustainable?
Could Sarn and Kidwelly be merged or jointly managed, while still maintaining a physical GP service in Pontyates?
Or are there other models the Health Board could consider?
We aren’t saying we have the answer. We are saying there must be more than one option.
The fact that a GP partnership hasn’t been secured doesn’t mean that our community suddenly doesn’t need a surgery.
We have spent months providing evidence, gathering signatures, speaking to councillors and Senedd members, carrying out community engagement and producing our own report. We have tried to work constructively throughout this process.
All we are asking for is a sustainable GP service here in Pontyates.
And finally, we have some good news on the media front.
Today, some of our community representatives and local councillors were interviewed by the BBC about Sarn Surgery and what has happened throughout this process.
We understand that the interviews should feature on both the Welsh and English BBC platforms on Saturday, so keep an eye out for them.
Thank you, as always, to everyone who continues to support the campaign, share our posts and speak up for our community.
The need for Sarn Surgery hasn’t changed. And neither has our determination to save it. ❤️
Save Sarn Surgery Community Working Group
