PLANS to move services from Lampeter Surgery will have a detrimental effect on the elderly and most vulnerable members of society, according to town councillors.

They were commenting on fears by residents that the loss of services would impact adversely on patients and result in fewer people coming into Lampeter to spend money in local shops.

Health chiefs have warned patients registered with Lampeter and Llanybydder GP surgeries and those seen within the Community Dental Services about “temporary changes” to clinics currently held in Lampeter.

These include relocating some clinics to other sites in the Lampeter area, including Speech and Language Therapy, Paediatric Clinic, Heart Failure Clinic, Community Dental Clinic and Podiatry Clinic.

Hywel Dda have not gone into detail about the plans or revealed a timescale although they have pledged a further update.

Cllr Elin T Jones said the moves would have “a detrimental effect” on the community.

“Some of the most vulnerable members of our society are going to have to travel further afield to access essential services,” she told colleagues.

Cllr Dinah Mulholland questioned whether some patients would even be capable of travelling, while Cllr Kistiah Ramaya suggested local bus services were inadequate.

“It’s very bad that the health board are going ahead with this without any discussion whatsoever,” he added.

See this week’s south editions for the full story, in shops and online now