Statement: Healthcare provision in Holt

Over the weekend residents in Holt raised concerns with me about information they had received from the Village Surgery in Farndon about them stopping secondary care referrals to Wrexham Maelor. I have since been in contact with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board who said the following: “There has not been any change to cross-border referral routes with regards to Welsh residents registered with an English GP, and the Health Board has not made any such announcement. Welsh Government policy is that Welsh residents should usually be treated within NHS Wales services where this is feasible, albeit there is some flexibility to take account of local geography, or where individuals require specialist treatments not routinely available in North Wales. Therefore, please feel free to reassure constituents that GPs in England can continued to refer Welsh residents to Wrexham.” It seems that referrals to Wrexham Maelor are not being stopped by the hospital itself, and I hope that puts some minds at rest. I will make contact with the surgery directly to find out more about the information they shared and how they will process referrals going forward in light of what they stated. Please share with any residents who are concerned. Thank you