At a recent health meeting held around the locality, news was shared that more GPs are interested in working at Tenby Doctors Surgery.

Updates on health matters for the community were provided at the South East Pembrokeshire Community Health Network’s (SEPCHN) last meeting held at New Hedges Village Hall, with the organisation’s secretary Cllr Duncan Whitehurst providing fellow councillors at this month’s meeting of Tenby Town Council with a rundown of issues discussed.

There was an update given on Tenby Surgery, which now has a new salaried doctor two-days a week and clinical lead for four-days. It appears that now GPs are interested in working in Tenby Surgery.

There is a new booking system and new telephone systems, also promoting E-consult for those who have the technology, which will allow more appointments to be made over phone for those that do not have or are unable to go online.

On Saundersfoot Medical Centre, it was explained that there had been problems with the surgery car park which is now privately run, with fines sometimes being issued incorrectly to patients, which was being looked into.

The meeting heard that surgeries such as Tenby’s and Saundersfoot’s were under a lot of pressure, owing to difficulties with recruitment, staff sickness and people not turning up for appointments.

“The number of missed appointments at the last minute are a lot more than you would expect, particularly when there are not many appointments to give out in first place,” said Cllr Whitehurst.

He then went onto give an update on Withybush Hospital. Back in April 2023 RAAC (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete) was discovered in the roof, with the facility in Haverfordwest the only hospital in Wales affected.

The whole of the top floor was affected with 108 beds closed, whilst inspections took place. However three wards have already reopened and Wards 9, 7 and 12 are ready to reopen. All wards are scheduled to be re-opened by the end of March.

Some eye appointments had been moved to Aman Valley, which have now returned to Manchester Square in Milford Haven.

A 16-bed frailty ward had been introduced as part of winter planning, to be used for those awaiting discharge. Tenby Hospital beds were all full at the moment.

In December there were 3,140 on the waiting list, waiting over 36 weeks for operations. These figures had been down to 100 prior to Covid.

The meeting heard that Hywel Dda University Health Board admitted that it had a huge mountain to climb.

The ambition is that by March 31 no one will be waiting for more than two years. Before Covid the Health Board was doing really well on waiting times, the meeting heard.

There is a new physiotherapy project which is based in practices. It was raised that there is a physiotherapy suite at the Tenby Cottage Hospital which is not being used and John Evans will look into physiotherapy services.

SEPCHN chairman Clr. Laurence Blackhall, said that physiotherapy self-referral is now possible. In addition, meetings will be specifically discussing creation of an integrated well-being facility, similar to that provided in Cardigan.

He would like to extend thanks to senior members of the health board and members from surgeries for attending.

“This a really open forum and there is always constructive dialogue,” he said.

The ‘Staying Well Together’ roadshow will be coming to Tenby early in 2024. There will be 50 stands including a vaccination drop-in centre.

The next meeting is to be confirmed and SEPCHN will promote the roadshow once dates are known.