Let us speak (From Penarth Times)

Let us speak

9:00am Thursday 9th July 2009

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DO other residents of Penarth and patients at Albert Road, Redlands Road and Station Road surgeries feel that more consultation on the proposed new combined health centre is needed?

I attended the exhibition organised by the local health board to show us the options, but I felt that some were already stronger contenders than others although this was not made clear.

The local health board is saying that it has yet to be decided if Albert Road and Redland Road surgeries will close and there is talk they will become branch surgeries.

More services might be provided in a combined health centre but access for the old and the unwell would certainly be worse.

What most people want from their local surgery is to be able to consult a doctor or nurse that they know.

They understand that further care from a specialist or a minor operation may have to take place at the hospital. Many people seem to believe the site favoured by the local health board for the new health centre is in Cogan.

For the majority of patients who live in Penarth this would mean having to drive or use public transport to get to the doctors.

How does this new policy fit with the Health for Wales strategy that advocates we all walk for short journeys?

What about the effects on local shops? If I get in my car to go to the doctors (especially if at Cogan), I am likely to nip round to Tesco for my shopping.

If there are to be major changes to how GPs work in Penarth we all need a clear chance to express our views and the local health board must listen to residents’ concerns.

Concerned resident Penarth

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