A Pembrokeshire county councillor has called for kindness and patience towards local NHS staff members, after Saundersfoot Medical Centre revealed that staff members had been receiving a ‘significant amount of abuse’ from users.

The heightened levels of abuse seems to stem from the fact that the Medical Centre recently announced that its dispensary would be closing permanently in March and no longer trading; along with teething issues with the facility’s phone system.

Sharing a post on social media, the Medical Centre stated: “Saundersfoot Surgery is currently receiving a significant amount of abuse from patients mainly in connection with the dispensary closing.

“It is important that all patients recognise that abuse of any kind is not acceptable and may result in the person being removed from the surgery as a patient.

“We cannot influence the service level provided by the pharmacies as they are independent businesses, we know they are working as hard as they can to resolve the service level issue.

“We have had problems with our phone system, and we are pushing our telephone supplier to resolve this as a matter of urgency.

“Currently have significantly higher than normal demand on our services and we are working at pace to provide enough access and recruit another GP unfortunately this all takes time.

“Alongside an increasing list size due to property developments locally with no consideration for provision of healthcare needs of the population.

“We are doing our best and we must retain our staff, please ask yourself would you like to come to work everyday to be abused. No staff means no service. Please be kind,” they added.

County councillor for nearby wards New Hedges and St Florence, Cllr Rhys Jordan shared his sympathies with the staff at the surgery, stating that he was ‘saddened but not surprised’ to see this message from Saundersfoot Medical Centre.

“Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always,” he stated.

“Our local NHS staff are being abused, simply for showing up and doing their best in incredibly difficult circumstances. Behind every receptionist, doctor, nurse, or paramedic is a human being.

“A parent. A carer. A friend. Someone who might be struggling with their own worries, but still chooses to serve others. They didn’t cause the pharmacy closures.

“They didn’t design the phone systems. They didn’t build the homes without thinking of healthcare capacity. Yet they’re on the front line and often, in the firing line. Abuse doesn’t fix delays.

“It just drives good people away. If you’re angry, I understand. But let’s turn that frustration into something constructive, into understanding, not blame.

“Let’s lift each other up instead of wearing each other down. Please, be kind,” he added.

Saundersfoot’s county councillor for the south ward Cllr Chris Williams recently shared statistics from March the surgery had highlighted, as follows: Number of calls abandoned 1,472; Total number of calls made 6,548; Number of calls answered within 2 minutes 4,563; Patients transferred out 53; Appointments made online 58.