A SURGERY in Colwyn Bay that shut to non-urgent patients for five days has said it is not encouraging patients to “stay away”.

West End Medical Centre, on Conway Road closed to non-urgent requests on September 15, 20, 22 and 27 and October 2, informing patients via social media that this was due to “exceptional demands” on their services.

They redirected patients to other helplines, including local pharmacies/pharmacists, minor ailment schemes, 111, minor injuries and A&E.

The treatment of patients lead Clwyd West MS Darren Millar to raise concerns about the surgery in the Senedd.

He said: “Patients deserve so much better than the service they are currently receiving at the West End Medical Centre - patients should not be put off seeing a health professional when they have a problem.

“The consequences of this happening so frequently don’t bear thinking about.

“I know that it's under pressure from a staffing point of view, but I'm very concerned that, in the last two weeks, the practice has been putting notices on social media encouraging patients to stay away because of exceptional demands on their services.

“Now, clearly, that's not sustainable and there needs to be work to improve access to appointments for patients that need them.”

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Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) said two of these days were due to staff shortages because of illness on top of leave and vacancies, and denied patients were being “encouraged to stay away” from the practice.

Libby Ryan-Davies, the Central Integrated Health Community’s director, said: “Services at the West End Medical Centre have now returned to normal.

“It is wholly inaccurate to say we are asking patients to stay away and patients should book appointments with the practice as normal.

“Staff sickness on two separate days over the past two weeks meant we needed to focus our limited resources on the most serious and urgent cases among our population.

“I apologise to those affected on those two days (September 27 and October 2).

“Staff are continuing to work extremely hard to look after the local population, amid high demand for services and I’m really grateful for their dedication and commitment.

“Please keep an eye on our West End Medical Centre Facebook page for accurate up to date information and advice.”