CONCERNS have been raised about patients being transferred from one Wrexham GP surgery to another already under scrutiny for its waiting times.

Borras Park Surgery closed on Monday for a month due to disruption caused by work at Borras Park Primary School situated next to the practice.

Its services have been temporarily transferred to Hillcrest surgery - despite its service having come under fire in recent times.

Hillcrest has, in recent weeks, been slammed for its "horrendous waiting times", with one woman claiming she called 200 times to book an appointment for her poorly daughter.

And the temporary closure of Borras Park Surgery, until August 28, has raised concerns about extra pressure and demand being put on Hillcrest.

Cllr Debbie Wallace, county councillor for Borras, said: "Whilst I understand the reasons for closing the Borras Park GP site, the current mitigations simply aren’t feasible for many residents.

"When the school proposals were first consulted, both myself and residents were given the assurance that the Borras Park GP Surgery would not be impacted. Evidently that’s not the case.

"Services are already stretched, what residents need is a consistent, communicative and available doctors surgery - at the moment, that isn’t the case.

"For far too long Betsi Cadwaladwr University Health Board has ignored the concerns of local residents. This has to change."

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) recently took over the running of Borras Park, Hillcrest and Forge Road surgeries - which operate as one practice split into three.

This means patients have a choice of the three surgeries to attend, and can choose to attend Forge Road instead of Hillcrest.

Gill Harris, BCUHB deputy chief executive and executive director of nursing and midwifery, said: "We apologise for the inconvenience of this temporary closure whilst the school works are taking place, this is necessary step to ensure the safety of our patients and staff.

"Borras Park Surgery is a branch surgery of the Hillcrest practice which is a single practice consisting of the Hillcrest, Borras Park and Forge Road surgery sites. Patients are able to access services at any of the three surgeries, but in the main choose to attend at the same site.

"The recent letter to patients that normally attend Borras Park confirms that the services currently delivered on that site will be transferred temporarily to Hillcrest during the essential building works being carried out at the school. Borras Park staff will also temporarily be relocated to Hillcrest.

"Whilst the Borras services and staff have been relocated to Hillcrest, patients can choose to attend either the Hillcrest or Forge Road sites during this temporary arrangement. There are no changes to patient registrations as all patients are registered with the Hillcrest practice."

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