Hundreds have attended a public meeting to voice concerns over the future of New Quay surgery.

Hywel Dda University Health Board announced last month that GP services will come to an end on 31 March next year following the resignation of the practice's doctors, Dr Rob Morgan and Dr Eurig Harries.

The health board has launched an eight-week public engagement, giving patients and local community an opportunity to share their views on the future delivery of GP services provided by New Quay Surgery.

Nearly 300 people packed into New Quay Memorial Hall on Tuesday evening to voice their concerns over the potential loss of the surgery.

Aberaeron county councillor Elizabeth Evans attended and said: “A packed house which clearly demonstrates the strength of feeling about the future of this valuable surgery.”

Dr Peter Thomas who attended the meeting said that there was universal concern among the crowd, adding: “Fear is probably a better emotion” both for New Quay residents and patients in Aberaeron and Llandysul.

The meeting led to two action points. The first being for the local community to work with the health board to “maximise the positive opportunities of working and living in coastal west Wales and to work with health watchdog Llais to maximise public engagement.

Speaking last week, Dr Eurig Harries one of the partners at New Quay Surgery has said it was “an extremely difficult decision” to finish.

“Dr Morgan had already indicated his intention to retire in spring 2027. Remaining as the sole GP partner — the ‘last man standing’ — would have left me with overall responsibility for both the clinical and business sides of the practice, while trying to recruit doctors in an exceptionally difficult recruitment environment.”

He stressed: “There is one distinction I particularly want to make clear: I have decided to leave New Quay Surgery. I have not decided that New Quay should no longer have a GP surgery.”

Members of a recent health board Vacant Practice Panel considered a range of options for the future provision of services; the preferred option to undertake an urgent contract award through a procurement process, which will establish whether another provider could be awarded the contract to provide a GP Practice at New Quay Surgery.

The panel also considered the Health Board taking over the practice, but did not recommend that option at this stage.

Hywel Dda is to hold a drop-in event at New Quay Memorial Hall on Wednesday, 11 November between 2pm and 7pm.

Andrew Carruthers, chief operating officer at Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “The Vacant Practice Panel has carefully considered the options available, taking into account a range of factors including patient safety, sustainability, financial viability, the geography of the area and the potential impact on patients.

“Its preferred option is to test whether another provider can be secured through an urgent contract award procurement process.

“However, no final decision has been made.

“In the meantime, New Quay Surgery remains open as normal, and we ask patients to remain registered with the practice.”