A plan needs to be put in place with urgency to sort the GP crisis affecting surgeries in Holyhead, Ynys Mon AM Rhun ap Iorwerth said after chairing a packed Public Meeting at Millbank Community Centre for patients to share their views on troubles facing two practices in the town.

Longford House and Cambria surgeries have struggled greatly to recruit and retain new full-time GPs after the management of both practices has been taken over by the Health Board in recent months, with patients often told there are no doctors at the surgeries for days and generally experiencing issues in accessing primary care due to the shortage of GPs in both practices.

Rhun ap Iorwerth AM said that the community spoke clearly and as one at the meeting, and that a plan now needs to be put in place by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to resolve the situation.

Mr ap Iorwerth said:

“What we had this evening in Holyhead was a community speaking very, very clearly with one voice. A frustrated community, an angry community in so many ways, that primary care, the GP surgery system in this town has been allowed to reach a point where it just cannot meet the needs of the town.

“Now, having spoken with a clear voice, we can take that message to Betsi Cadwaladr and to Welsh Government and say we can’t wait any longer, we can’t afford to wait any longer, the vulnerable people of Holyhead can’t wait any longer.

“Let’s get a plan in place now to sort this out.”