CONCERNS over a lack of doctors at surgeries in Holyhead has prompted calls for ‘urgent action’ and a public meeting.

Demands are being made for the restoration of GP services at two surgeries in the town.

The Betsi Cadwalader University Health Board (BCUHB) has taken over the management of the Longford House and Cambria practices.

Worried constituents contacted Ynys Môn AM Rhun ap Iorwerth, who has now written to BCUHB asking for “urgent action.”

It is claimed that although the surgeries are manned by “hard-working nurses and reception staff,” there are times when there are no doctors available.

Plaid Cymru has arranged the meeting to give residents a chance to express concerns at 6pm, at the Millbank Community Centre, Friday, October 25.

Rhun ap Iorwerth will chair the meeting and Plaid’s Parliamentary Candidate for Ynys Môn Aled ap Dafydd and Councillor for Ynys Cybi, Trefor Lloyd Hughes will attend.

Rhun ap Iorwerth said: “It is a matter of grave concern that two surgeries, Longford House and Cambria, have lost so many doctors that they have been forced to come under the management of the health board.

“The surgeries are currently manned by hard-working nurses and reception staff only with no doctors at all on some days. I have written to the health board asking what plans are in place to restore the service.”

“Workforce shortages are among the biggest problems facing our NHS. We’re proud that Plaid Cymru was successful in our campaign for a centre to train doctors at Bangor University.

The Arfon AM Siân Gwenllian, who has long campaigned for an expansion of medical training in Bangor recently welcomed the first intake of would-be doctors undertaking medical training in the city.

Aled ap Dafydd, Plaid Cymru’s Parliamentary Candidate for Ynys Môn said:

“This is a matter of real worry for Holyhead residents.”

Trefor Lloyd Hughes said: “The Health Board must give us a timetable of when we can expect services to be back at full capacity as soon as possible.”

An anonymous patient of one of the practices with close family members who are registered to the other said: “I can say with confidence that the situation is causing patients and staff a lot of stress.

“I phoned up for an urgent appointment and was told there were no appointments available on the day, and I’d have to wait four days until there was a doctor next in the practice.

“Fortunately after saying I couldn’t wait that long, an appointment was found that evening for me. I was one of many patients waiting to be seen at 5pm, it was clear how stressed and worn out the reception staff, nurses and locums were. “Something needs to be done.”