Community leaders welcome Cefn Mawr GP surgery pledge

Assembly Member Ken Skates has welcomed assurances that a new doctors surgery for Cefn Mawr remains a health board ‘priority’.

Mr Skates, the Labour AM for Clwyd South, has long pushed for Betsi Cadwaladr UHB to commit to a new facility for the village’s Caritas Surgery, which would serve Cefn as well as surrounding communities.

Local councillors Derek Wright and Ken Bathers are also pushing for the move, and all three have pledged to do everything they can to make it happen.

Mr Skates said: “I wrote to health board chief executive Professor Trevor Purt again last month to ensure this issue remains on his radar, and I’m pleased to have had assurances that Betsi does indeed intend to create a new GP practice for Cefn Mawr.

“It’s great that we now have confirmation that it is a health board priority, and I will continue to maintain dialogue with councillors, residents, Caritas Surgery and Betsi Cadwaladr to help bring it to fruition.

“A new facility would serve thousands of people and would be brilliant for the area.”

In a letter to Mr Skates, Prof Purt said: “The health board is aware of the practice’s interest in identifying alternative premises in Cefn Mawr. This has been identified by Primary Care Support Unit (PCSU) as a priority area within the developing five-year capital programme.

“I can assure you that the board has recognised the significant issues with the standard of the existing premises and we are doing everything we can to improve these.”

Mr Skates added: “This is something which has been talked about for a long time, and I know from talking to residents that it’s something they consider a real priority for the area. I welcome this positive response from the health board and look forward to helping the plans progress in any way I can.”

Cllr Wright said: “I believe this will be an excellent addition to the Cefn Mawr area and bring our communities in line with the other larger villages in Wrexham county borough. This shows what representation of our village by community councillors, its county councillor and Assembly Member can achieve.”

Cllr Bathers said he believes the old Co-op site would be the ideal location. He added: “We have been pushing for a new medical centre in Cefn for a number of years and the community deserves one. This will be a massive boost to our village.”