FOLLOWING multiple complaints and listening to the concerns of the people of Pontardawe, and the surrounding areas, in November 2020 an application was made to Swansea Bay Health Board for the establishment of a third pharmacy for Pontardawe, as the current service provision was no longer adequate to meet local needs and demand. Closures due to a lack of staff and long queues are commonplace.
In September 2021 that application was rejected on the grounds that the Health Board believed that two pharmacies were sufficient and that no complaints had been received.
Complaints have indeed been sent.
Former County Borough Councillor and current Pontardawe Town Mayor, Cllr Linet Purcell said:
“They used a map to explain their decision, but this map excluded the care homes in Ynysmeudwy and Rhydyfro, the sheltered housing at Riverside and- quite unbelievably – Pontardawe Health Centre.”
Following the Health Board’s decision, the proposed Pharmacy submitted an appeal to the Welsh Government in October 2021. An appeal was supported and led by letters from Pontardawe Town Council, the Town Mayor, Plaid Cymru Councillors Anthony John Richards and Linet Purcell, Sioned Williams MS, GPs across Pontardawe and a petition signed by 1280 residents. The appeal highlighted three years’ worth of complaints and the use of an incorrect map to determine population need.
A Plaid Cymru Neath spokesperson, Cllr Nia Jenkins of Alltwen said: “Over the last three years, Plaid Cymru Councillors at a county borough and town council level and our regional MSs, past and current have supported the application for a third pharmacy in Pontardawe. I simply can not understand why the Welsh Labour Government rejected the appeal despite agreeing with some of the arguments raised, and admitting that there is a need for an additional pharmacy to serve the community. We believe they should urgently look at this again and support the establishment of a third pharmacy.”
The current Plaid Cymru Councillors for Pontardawe, Anthony Richards and Heath Davies issued this joint statement:
“This has been a longstanding issue facing the residents of Pontardawe and neighboring communities. We fully recognise and appreciate the tremendous pressures faced by staff at the existing pharmacies, as well as their efforts to try to meet this demand. Despite their efforts, the current provision is not at the level necessary to meet demand. Therefore, we believe that a third pharmacy is essential for meeting local residents’ health and well-being needs. We will continue to work with the applicant, elected colleagues and the community to find a way forward and put pressure upon the Welsh Labour Government to reconsider their decision.”
Earlier this month, Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd for South Wales West and resident of Alltwen, Sioned Williams wrote a letter to the Health Minister to express bewilderment at the decision and demanded answers as to how the decision was made. No response from the Welsh Government has yet been received.
Plaid Cymru Neath believes that that is simply not good enough and will continue to press for a solution.
