Protest over GP surgery changes

Protesters fear that the surgery may close altogether

Around 200 people have staged a protest in Denbighshire, against changes at a village doctors' surgery.

Protesters are angry that control of the Cerrigydrudion practice has been transferred to Corwen 10 miles away.

Conwy Local Health Board says that patients will have a better service, but locals say they are concerned that their surgery may eventually close.

The changes which follow the break-up of a previous GP partnership are due to take place at the end of the year.

At Monday's protest, a letter was handed over to GPs at Corwen asking them to pull out of the plan to take over the Cerrigydrudion surgery.

The NHS is the 'jewel in the crown' for rural communities, say protesters

Patients say they are familiar with the existing set up are worried that it could lead one day to the closure of Cerrigydrudion surgery.

Protester Elfed Williams said: "People feel extremely strongly about it, that they might lose a valuable asset within the community in Cerrig, and we might lose the surgery there.

"We will not tolerate that in this day and age."

Peter Lewis said: "It's the jewel in the crown really for rural areas at the moment the health service, and I think if that disappears it is another nail in the coffin for rural communities."

Previously Dr Dermot Norton, who had served the area for 20 years, was in partnership with another GP at Cerrigydrudion, but the practice was dissolved in June.

Improved service

More than 1,000 signatures were collected for a petition after Dr Norton's application to carry on working in the area was turned down.

But local health board members upheld the decision of an appointments panel which felt that the Corwen practice - to be known as the Berwyn Medical Group - would provide a better level of service.

It is to be a new practice of five GPs, one of whom worked in Cerrigydrudion for seven years until 2002.

At the moment, the health board is running the Cerrigydrudion surgery but the changeover will take place before the end of the year.

John Williams, the board's assistant director of primary care, said: "The old partnership has now ceased. The practice was advertised and the Corwen practice was successful.

"The health board believes that patients will get the same service - if not an enhanced one - under the new arrangements."