A local GP surgery will not be saved despite immense public opposition, this is the response of the health board following packed public meeting.

In July, Hywel Dda Health board that it would close St Davids Surgery, which is believed to have around 3,000 patients, next month when its solo GP will resign the General Medical Services contract.

Patients will be transferred, mostly to Solva surgery but also to the surgeries at Fishguard and Haverfordwest, as distance dictates.

The announcement came despite immense local opposition to the move. Hundreds of St Davids residents queued out the doors of City Hall a drop in session with the health board on the future of the surgery and protest banners were erected around the city.

Following the announcement St Davids decided that it would continue the fight to save the surgery and last week more than 150 St Davids residents packed into City Hall for a meeting on its future.

Among the topics discussed was the possibility of appealing the health board’s decision and the possibility of the community buying the surgery building.

Hywel Dda Health Board has said that, while it appreciates the decision has caused concern and disappointment and understands the strength of feeling, it will not revisit its decision.

In a letter to campaigners the health board said that it will set up a branch surgery in St David’s, which will provide services delivered by the multi professional team for a minimum of at least 20 hours per week.

However, the branch surgery will not support any sessions run by a physician associate, who could support doctors in the diagnosis and management of patients.

Over the next few weeks, the health board will begin transitioning patients and the management team is currently working closely with both the staff at St David’s Surgery and the current clinical team in Solva Surgery to develop a model of general practice.

This will fulfil the health board’s statutory requirement to ensure an appropriate service is in place for the people of St David's by the end of October.

Hywel Dda Health Board said that it is committed to continuing working with the Peninsular Working Group and will keep general medical services (GMS) provision under review to ensure that it is meeting the needs of patients. A further review will take place in six months’ time.

There will also be health board engagement events held throughout September on the development of primary and community services strategy.

“In making the decision to support the managed list dispersal of the current St David’s Surgery, members of the board were presented with all of the facts related to patient demographics, travel times etc,” said Hywel Dda University Health Board’s new chairperson, Dr Neil Wooding and acting CEO Prof Phil Kloer.

“This also included discussions with the current owners of the St David’s Surgery building, Llais [which represents the interests of people in the NHS in Wales] and the local medical committee.

“We will not revisit this decision but will continue to work with the community of St David's to mitigate any negative impact of this development where possible.”