WREXHAM councillors have called for the reinstatement of local GP appointments after a health board took over a number of practices.

The Leader reported recently how the GP partners at Forge Road Surgery in Southsea decided to resign their General Medical Services contract with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

This meant management of the practice would transfer over to the health board on June 1, after which there would follow a period of "consolidation and review".

County Councillor Paul Rogers has been working with Councillor Nigel Williams of Southsea to reinstate services at Brymbo and Forge Road over recent months and has welcomed the takeover by the Health Board.

He has now called on the authority to take action to reinstate the surgery, which has "barely been open" for nearly two years.

Commenting on the takeover he said: "Over recent months both myself and Councillor Nigel Williams have held meetings with the health board to raise concerns about the unacceptable closure of Brymbo Surgery and the reduction in services at Forge Road.

"Residents from Brymbo and Broughton have had to travel to Hillcrest in Wrexham to see a GP or have a routine appointment with a nurse.

"That's not right. You should be able to get appointments locally and residents, many elderly, unemployed and vulnerable should not have to travel four miles for healthcare and likewise should not have to pay £20 in taxi fares per visit.

"Access to a doctor shouldn't be based on affordability. Those with long term healthcare have been impacted significantly.

"Patients should be seen in their local community.

"So far there are positive signs from the health board that services will improve however a major step towards this is reopening the branch surgery at Brymbo as soon as possible.

"This closure is unacceptable and needs to he addressed as soon as possible."

Simon Jones, assistant director of primary care and commissioning east at the health board, said: "We are very grateful for the support from Councillors Nigel Williams and Paul Rogers who have both engaged very positively as we re-establish core General Practice services from the practices in Forge Road, Borras and Hillcrest.

"Forge Road is open to patients however the phone system was centralised to Hillcrest and therefore appointments were offered between the surgeries.

"The practice team are introducing changes to the appointment system to ensure patients are able to be seen in their preferred practice location, and we hope to see this start to take effect from next week."