A HEALTH board has apologised for problems experienced at a Deeside surgery after it was branded a 'disaster waiting to happen'.

The Leader previously reported that St Mark's Dee View surgery, in Connah's Quay, was closed on Monday - leaving dozens of patients with appointments booked in the dark about them.

Local residents took to social media to complain about the service - with some claiming that they'd be informed that the surgery had no available doctors.

Dr Chris Stockport, Executive Director of Primary and Community Care, said: "I would like to apologise for the problems that patients experienced at St Mark's Dee View Surgery on Monday 28th June. We do everything possible to ensure that all GP practices are fully staffed but there are very rare occasions where it isn’t possible to cover the GP shifts. On the day in question at St Mark's there were two doctors absent due to sickness.

"In this situation, we would normally put processes in place to ensure that patient’s needs can still be met. This can be either through providing an appointment with another member of the clinical team, arranging an appointment with the GP on the following day or arranging an urgent appointment at another Practice.

"At St Mark’s on the day in question it would appear that these options were not explained to patients, and this must have been distressing for patients contacting the surgery. This service that patients received on that day falls below the standard that they can expect, and we are carrying out an urgent review of systems and process at St Mark's to ensure that there is no repeat of these problems."

Natalie Matthews said she is one of thousands registered at the surgery, but over the last few months trying to get an appointment is like winning the jackpot.

She called the surgery over 190 times when her daughter was ill, but due to no available GPs she said she ‘gave up’ and went to her local chemist for advice.

She said: “There’s around 2,000 patients who literally have no doctor. They tell people to do an e-consultation and then they may get a telephone appointment in two to three weeks but what about the elderly who cannot use technology?

“My daughter was ill and I gave up trying after 193 calls, luckily for her she wasn’t really bad, we went to the chemist and spoke to them but there will be people with serious issues who need help.”

Natalie said there are long waiting times for prescriptions that also need to be signed off my a doctor, as one lady struggles to get specialised baby milk.

She added: “It’s just a disaster waiting to happen. What about if people feel a lump, then they have to wait weeks for a telephone appointment before they can see the GP in person before they are referred. What if that turns out to be cancer?

“It’s having a knock on effect on A&E as well, people are going there with GP issues and it’s knocking back their times. They are busy enough as it is.

“The health board is aware of it but nothing is being done. Getting an appointment has always been hard but never to this extent."

She added: “There’s nowhere to go. People have various different illnesses they need to see doctors for. They have resorted to signing up to new surgeries but now they are at capacity which is making it hard to get appointments there as well.

“There’s a shortage of doctors. This seems to be country wide but something needs to be done.

“Not only are people needing health care, the poor staff behind the scenes are taking endless abuse from angry patients, it’s going round in circles.”

MP Mark Tami said he is 'intensely concerned' over this.

He said: "Whilst we all recognise the burden on GP surgeries as we move out of the pandemic, some of the experiences constituents have reported to me are below what is acceptable. Whilst I cannot comment on the specific details of individual cases, an overarching theme is of delays leading to serious, avoidable harm that will affect some people for the rest of their lives.

"I have written to the health board about this issue calling on them to take immediate steps to ensure there is enough capacity for everyone who needs to be seen, to be seen, promptly. Whilst I await a response from them on this issue, I would encourage everyone who has concerns about this issue to let me know, by email to tamim@parliament.uk or, if you cannot access email, please call 01244 836350. The more people who come forward, the stronger our case is for getting this issue fixed."

Jack Sargeant MS added: “Living in the Quay myself, I am well aware of the difficulties at St Marks and have previously met with the surgery to understand them more. I have asked for an urgent meeting with Betsi Cadwaladr, to get action to address immediate problems and for a long term plan to be put in place. This has to involve more doctors and listening to the surgery on matters like e-prescribing.

“This is not just an issue in the Quay, and I am seeking robust plans for all areas to ensure residents get access to the appointments they need.

"We know we need to recruit more doctors and the Welsh Government have launched the Train Work Live scheme, as well as announcing the building of a new medical training centre in North Wales.”