NEWPORT Central Surgery will close at the end of the month after 80 years of serving the community – leaving 4,500 patients and 12 members of staff bereft.

The two doctors at the surgery, Dr Lloyd Grant and Dr Eman Mahmoud, are moving onto a new practice and are not being replaced.

Patients and staff will be relocated to Bellevue, St David’s and Bryngwyn surgeries based on where they live after new GP partners could not be found.

Glenys Cousins, 64, a healthcare phlebotomist who has worked at the surgery for 25 years, says staff have been left devastated by the news.

She said: “I’m just heartbroken because it’s all I’ve known and my card will come when it probably shouldn’t be.

“I just feel for all the patients – that’s the sad side and I won’t be working with my colleagues. All the staff got on well and all the patients treated us as friends rather than as a surgery.”

Mrs Cousins will be relocated to the Bryngwyn practice, but says a change like this will be more keenly felt by the patients who are moved there.

She added: “They say it’s within the area, but it’s not really - it’s uphill, downhill or on the buses for the elderly.

“Some will find it difficult, some will find it OK. It’s mixed emotions really.”

A spokeswoman for Aneurin Bevan Health Board said: “Other practices in the area have agreed to provide care and services for the patients of the practice.

“Patients have been informed and will now be receiving their care from either Bellevue, St. David’s and Bryngwyn surgeries based on where they live. A smaller number of patients will moving to other practices.

“Whilst we appreciate this brings changes for some of our patients, by moving to the new surgeries, patients will continue to receive the full range of GP services and in many cases additional services.

“Patients will still be able to attend a surgery within or close to their communities.”