A WOMAN suffering with chronic conditions claims she was forced to head to A&E five times over the festive period after being refused access to GP services in Meirionnydd.

Mary Griffiths Clarke, who stood as Labour Party candidate in the 2015 General Election in Dwyfor Meirionnydd, suffers from spinal arthritis and severe endometriosis and has been told her condition could be “life-threatening” if left untreated.

Mary (pictured) has recently relocated to Meirionnydd and attempted to enlist with two different GP surgeries in Dolgellau and Barmouth. But she says she was turned away from both as she only had temporary accommodation.

As a result, Mary ended up requiring five visits to A&E in Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor, including two visits on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

“So far I have been admitted to hospital as an emergency patient on five occasions,” explained Mary.

“The reason why? I have been unable to register with a GP locally.

“First of all I attempted to register in Dolgellau. I naively explained that I was in temporary accommodation whilst I found somewhere more permanent to live.

“I was advised to fill in both a temporary and permanent registration form and bring them into my consultation with a GP.

“The GP asked how long I had left on my tenancy. I was refused permanent registration on grounds of my housing circumstances.

"I was stunned by her callousness.”

Minfor Surgery in Barmouth said it was unable to discuss specific cases due to patient confidentiality agreements.

No comment was received from Caerffynnon Surgery in Dolgellau.

Read the full story in today’s Meirionnydd edition of the Cambrian News