STAFF shortages that have forced a Neyland GP practice to scrap afternoon surgeries look likely to continue until at least January 2017.

On Monday, Neyland town councillors grilled staff from Argyle Medical Group on their decision to suspend afternoon appointments at the town’s St Clements surgery, and St Oswald’s surgery in Pembroke.

The plans, which came into effect this week, mean afternoon surgeries are now only available at Argyle Street in Pembroke Dock.

Dr Owen Cox, senior partner at Argyle Medical Group, said the move was prompted by a doctor going on long-term sick leave.

“We have taken the view that we can’t sustain the workload without sharing it,” he told councillors.

Asked for assurance that St Clements would not close as a result of the changes, Cllr William McGarvie was told it would “definitely be kept open”.

Cllr Judith Wilson said she understood the group’s hand had been forced by the situation, but said the move put Neyland people at a disadvantage, in particular those who relied on public transport.

“To go Pembroke Dock it will cost you £5 return,” she said.

“If you can’t get a morning appointment in Neyland and you have to go to Pembroke Dock who is going to give you that £5?

Dr Cox said the group was unable to reimburse patients, but said an effort would be made to transfer women’s services - currently offered in Neyland in the afternoon - to morning sessions, but this was constrained by space.

Cllr Mike Harry asked if recruitment problems were confined to Argyle Street or were Pembrokeshire or Wales-wide.

“It sounds to me like it’s only going to get worse,” he said - a prediction confirmed by practice manager Alex Jones, who joined the Argyle group three months ago.

Dr Cox said in three years, there had been no enquiries for a job advertised with the group.

He said the main obstacles to recruitment were that intake to medical schools was still insufficient, and a 12 per cent pay difference in England and Wales meant Welsh communities struggled to attract GPs.

He said there was a big disincentive for doctors to go to isolated rural practices, which was where the “crunch point” was being felt.

‘Bad press’ putting doctors off becoming GPs, an emigration of talent overseas, and changes to public sector pensions resulting in GPs retiring instead of staying on part-time as they got older were compounded by overall cuts to primary care spending.

Dr Cox said he was already worrying about there being no-one to replace him when he retired, and it would be ‘a good five years’ before recruitment got better.

In the meantime, patients are being encouraged to make use of nurse and pharmacy practitioners, who in many cases were fully capable of meeting patients’ needs.

Councillors said more needed to be done to make patients aware that this was an alternative.

Paul Miller, County Councillor for Neyland West, who was at the meeting, said: "Last week's announcement was a real blow for the town.

"Access to GP's appointments continues was an issue with the existing service but with services being further reduced that access will now become more difficult both in terms of getting an appointment and physically getting to that appointment.

"The Argyle Group must urgently address these workforce issues and return a full service to Neyland as soon as practicable.

I'll be working with the group and offering any assistance I can to ensure that happens."