Health Board "taking residents' concerns seriously" says Anglesey AM after public meeting raised concerns at lack of doctors

The Ynys Môn Assembly Member Rhun ap Iorwerth wrote to Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board raising patients' issues after he organised the gathering at Millbank Community Centre last month.

It was part of the Plaid Cymru AM's campaign to see GP services restored to full capacity in the area.

Two medical practices, Longford House and Cambria, are currently being run by the Health Board, due to difficulties recruiting and retaining doctors.

According to Mr ap Iorwerth, a response from the Health Board, received this week, shows the board was "taking residents' concerns seriously," and said plans had been mooted for short, medium and longer term solutions, to see services restored to full capacity.

After receiving the Health Board’s response, Mr ap Iorwerth said:

“The responses I’ve received from the Health Board show that it was very, very useful to have that public meeting.

"The way residents spoke, raising their concerns in a serious, measured way, I was then able to pass on to the Health Board, and it was worthwhile.

“What we have is an explanation of the steps being taken now to recruit doctors in the immediate future as well as plans for the near future, and a vision for a new, modern vision for primary care in Holyhead and the surrounding area in the longer term.

“The truth of the matter is that this is an issue that should never have been allowed to come to fruition. Labour have been running the NHS in Wales for 20 years now and it is their lack of urgency, their lack of action, that has led us to this point where we have these real issues that are affecting the lives of people in and around Holyhead.

“I look forward to meeting Health Board officials in the new year to press them further for action on this matter.

"Once again I am very grateful for the input of local residents at our public meeting, as their contributions have been really useful.”