A practice in in Treorchy, Wales is closing after its sole GP terminated her contract and the health board admitted it was unable to attract other GPs.
Cwm Taf health board has decided to close the Horeb surgery after its sole GP Dr Naoko Koto resigned on July 31.
The health board will now have to relocate Horeb’s 3,200 patients.
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: ‘Those affected by the closure of the Horeb practice will be provided with alternative GP services close by within the town. Horeb is an example of a model of care where they couldn’t attract other GPs to work despite significant efforts by the practice and the Health Board to maintain its services over the last two years.’
Cwm Taf University Health Board said that it was working modernise its primary care services to make sure they both continue to meet the needs of their population and are sustainable.
Wales is suffering an acute crisis in GP recruitment, with health boards in the country now stepping in to help practices at risk of closure. Cwm Taf has set up a rapid response team to step in to temporarily managing folding practices.
Health boards in Wales and Scotland are increasingly having to take over the running of practices as many partners are choosing to hand their contracts over to trusts and an increasing number of GPs choose to become salaried employees.
