A SERIOUS shortage of rural GPs has plunged the future of a busy Cardigan surgery into uncertainty, it emerged this week.

A question mark hangs over Ashleigh Surgery following the impending loss of two of its three GPs from a practice established 22 years aqo which now has 4,020 patients.

Dr Peter Counsell, who resigned from the Napier Street practice in January, leaves at the end of July, while Dr Simon Knight is due to retire next January.

“The practice has been striving hard for some time to attract GPs to the area, but unfortunately has not been successful to date,” said Hywel Dda Health Board in a statement.

“In light of this, the partnership has decided to serve seven months’ notice to end their General Medical Services contract with Hywel Dda University Health Board.

"In the short term this means that care will be provided by the same doctors, nurses and reception staff currently within the practice, whilst the practice and the University Health Board work with the community to find a longer-term future that secures this important service for the Cardigan population.”

“We want to make sure GP services stay within the area,” Elaine Lorton, assistant director of primary care, told a largely hostile audience at a packed public meeting at Cardigan Guildhall on Monday afternoon.

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