Closure of a Cemmaes Road surgery is necessary because it can’t be guaranteed that services will be “consistently safe”, Powys Health Board has ruled.

Dyfi Valley Health had applied to the health board to be allowed to close Glantwymyn Surgery in Cemmaes Road and concentrate services on the Forge Road practice in Machynlleth, warning that staff recruitment problems meant it could not continue to operate both surgeries.

Services at Glantwymyn Surgery will now end in July with the surgery closing.

The health board, at a meeting held in Machynlleth’s Y Plas, agreed to support the health group’s application although chief executive Carol Shillabeer insisted it was a difficult decision.

A consultation had found that the majority of the more than 1,000 respondents felt that if any closure had to happen, the closure of Glantwymyn Surgery was the preferable option, although there was opposition to the closure amid fears that some patients in rural areas would struggle to be able to travel to Machynlleth.

Ms Shillabeer said: “No decision of this nature is ever easy.

“As a health board we aspire to ensure a comprehensive primary care service is available locally to communities across Powys.

“However, we also need to ensure that primary care services are fit for the future and able to respond to the very significant challenges they face.

“Today’s board meeting provided an opportunity for a thorough review of the process that has taken place to consider and assess the application from Dyfi Valley Health to close their premises in Cemmaes Road and consolidate their services at their premises in Machynlleth.

“After careful consideration the board agreed to accept the recommendation subject to the development of a detailed mitigation plan.”

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