A PATIENT at a surgery in Prestatyn has criticised its decision not to allow more than one person inside its premises at once during weekend clinics.

The patient, who asked not to be named, said she finds the stance taken by Healthy Prestatyn/Healthy Rhuddlan Iach, based on Nant Hall Road, “absolutely appalling”.

She added that patients, including pensioners, have had to stand outside in the rain while they wait their turn to receive treatment on weekends, and urged the clinic to reconsider.

Its weekend clinic, she said, is specifically for patients who have had surgery and need aftercare, and for those who need dressings re-doing daily for boils, infections, or wounds.

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The patient said: “People who are post-op, elderly and in pain are being made to stand outside in the rain to wait to get their dressings seen to, even though the practice is empty and has three empty waiting rooms.

“Currently, there is an over-80-year-old who has to wait outside, even though she has ailing mobility due to the severity of her wounds.

“It is absolutely appalling the way they are treating people who are already in pain. During the week it’s fine, but on the weekend, for some reason, they’ve stopped letting you in.”

Last month, the Journal reported that three GPs, filling two full-time positions between them at Healthy Prestatyn, had left the practice.

The reasons for their departures have not been disclosed, but Rhyl-based Clarence Medical Centre has stepped in to provide “interim support” for the surgery.

Though the patient said she could not fault the nurses at the surgery, she said those in more senior positions should allow more people inside the clinic at once.

She added: “To be fair to the nurses, it’s not their fault. It’s whoever is running the practice, who has made the decision that people can’t just walk in on weekends, even though they’re providing a clinic.

“I’ve had to wait outside myself, and am going have to for the next few weekends. To expect you to stand in the rain while you wait to get your dressings changed… it’s just diabolical, to be honest.

“You’re meant to put the patients’ needs and wellbeing first. Some days, there can be nine or 10 people before you, so you can be waiting outside for an hour.

“I’m not surprised that three GPs left. The doctors and nurses there are lovely, but the people running it don’t seem interested in helping you.

“I’m doing this to try and change things, because it’s just not right.”

In response, Angela Wood, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s executive director of nursing, said that a home appointment would be offered to patients who are elderly or infirmed.

She also explained why the clinic only permits one patient within the building at once during weekends.

Ms Wood said: “From a security point of view, it is necessary to manage patients at this clinic in this way, as we only have a very small number of clinical staff available.

“These are non-appointed, drop-in clinics which are attended mostly by patients with good mobility. The clinics are used by both local people and visitors to the area, so can be busy at times.

“For those patients who may be elderly and infirm we would offer a home appointment. We would urge anyone offered such an appointment to accept it to avoid waiting outside the drop-in clinic.

“If anyone who is elderly and infirm would still rather visit the clinic on a weekend, we would advise them to arrive no earlier than 2pm in order to minimise their wait.

“I would like to pay tribute to our community teams who continue to go above and beyond, to serve the large number of patients who need care and treatment away from our acute hospitals.”