That decision was made at a meeting of the Board on 24 May 2023 in line with the health board’s branch practice review process which included: review of the application from the practice; engagement with patients and local stakeholders including equality impact assessment; careful consideration of potential alternatives to accepting the application; and, identification of actions that should be taken if the application is accepted. The Board discussed the clear strength of feeling about the application. But, as alternative options for maintaining General Medical Services had been adequately explored within Powys Teaching Health Board and with Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, with no viable options available, the Board accepted the recommendation made by the Branch Practice Review Panel to approve the application with a closure date of 30 November 2023.
Crickhowell Group Practice is writing to the households of registered patients in Gwent to provide reassurance that they will continue to be registered with the Practice and do not need to take any action, and to provide information about local health and wellbeing support services. I have attached a copy of the letter for your information and awareness, and we expect this to reach letterboxes within the next week. We will also ensure that we share the letter and FAQs through our social and digital channels.
The letter also highlights a community wellbeing and information drop-in event due to take place in Gilwern Community Centre from 3.30pm to 7pm on Thursday 2 November 2023. We will be working with Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, Monmouthshire County Council, and other local parties to promote this event in the coming weeks.
Work is continuing through a task and finish group (representation from Crickhowell Group Practice, Powys Teaching Health Board, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and Monmouthshire County Council with observer status from Llais, the citizen voice body for health and social care) and the latest update on this work was presented to a meeting in public of Powys Teaching Health Board this week.
A copy of the letter, information about the forthcoming community event, the update report presented to the Health Board this week, and archive information about the engagement process earlier this year are available from our website:
