GP shortages mean out of hours closures

GP shortages this weekend mean that out of hours services in Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire will be closed intermittently.

Hywel Dda University Health Board says they are continuing efforts to fill the shifts but expect the following disruptions:

Withybush General Hospital - closed 12am to 8am on Sunday.
Prince Philip Hospital - closed 2pm on Saturday until 8am on Sunday.
Glangwili General Hospital - closed from 10:30pm on Saturday to 8am on Sunday.

Analysis by Health Reporter James Crichton-Smith:

The fact that Hywel Dda is struggling to fill its GP out of hours rota is not a new one.

Health boards across Wales regularly have gaps in GP out of hours cover and Hywel Dda has previously warned of a shortfall at weekends, like it has this afternoon.

Staffing problems and poor morale affecting GP out of hours

Health Board has had no doctor available overnight

The cause is a simple, and familiar, one. There simply aren't enough GPs in Wales.

Efforts are ongoing to try and change this. The Welsh Government has its Train. Work. Live. campaign - and it has been getting results.

But training new GPs and attracting them to Wales takes time. The challenges are in the here and now.