Residents in Dafen, Carmarthenshire have expressed deep concerns about the state of their local healthcare services. Faye Hayward, a 62-year-old from the area, vividly described the lack of support as "terrible" and emphasized that Llanelli seems to be completely overlooked. With the increase in the patient list from 8,000 to 11,500 over the past 10 years, along with new developments like about 200 homes and an 84-bed care home, the demand for healthcare is soaring. Yvonne Hogan, 76, also shared her fear of feeling unsafe, stating that it takes a long time to get through on the phone and it's difficult to secure appointments.

Health Centre's Appeal and Welsh Government's Response

The Llwynhendy health centre is taking proactive steps by appealing to patients to write to their local Member of the Senedd (MS) to seek more funding. As part of a wider campaign by the British Medical Association, this move aims to bring attention to the "crisis" facing general practice in Wales. The health centre's website highlights that GPs across Wales are facing an "unsustainable workload" and are receiving just £117.48 per year for each patient, which amounts to a meager 32p per day. A Welsh government spokesperson stated that £650m of funding was provided for general medical services in 2023/24 and negotiations for 2024-25 are ongoing. However, the British Medical Association argues that despite their campaign for a rescue package, the Welsh government has once again shown disregard for the serious concerns and valuable contribution of general practice by offering a derisory amount last month.

Impact of New Developments

The new development plan in the area is causing significant concerns. With about 200 homes and an 84-bed care home set to be built, there will be a substantial increase in patients and demand. As Faye Hayward pointed out, there is simply no room in the doctors to accommodate these additional people. This poses a major challenge for the existing healthcare system and raises questions about how it will be able to meet the needs of the growing population. It highlights the urgent need for modernization and expansion of healthcare services in the area.

Practice Manager's Perspective

Practice manager Phillip Harrison shed light on the situation by stating that the surgery's patient list has grown significantly over the past 10 years. He also expressed concern about the impact of new developments on the practice and is working closely with the care home to ensure that it does not negatively affect current patients. This shows the efforts being made by the local healthcare providers to address the challenges posed by the increasing demand. However, it also emphasizes the need for more comprehensive support and resources to handle the growing workload.