At the start of 2024, two Monmouth women were among a number of others who were notified by their local surgery that they could no longer treat their medical condition and would have to travel to a hospital instead.

86-year-old Margaret Stanger of Rockfield and Marjorie Howard of Monmouth had been having a routine procedure every four months at Castle Gate Medical Practice for a number of years but they, and 48 others, were told by letter that the practice now didn’t have the funds to continue offering the procedure.

The letter written by Dr Spencer Goodwin, senior partner at Castle Gate Medical Practice, went on to say: “The services that we are no longer able to provide are not part of our core General Medical Services contract and although we have invested in equipment and training over many years, we are no longer able to fund these services ourselves given the financial constraints going forward.”

A glimmer of hope came with the prospect that this service may return in the future if the local health board gave them their support through funding.

Marjorie Howard and Margaret Stanger were so upset and angry at having to travel miles to a hospital for their treatment they decided they weren't going to just sit back and do nothing they would try and get the required funding for their local surgery.

They were joined by Margaret Quinn and Sue Moss who both felt the same way and after a great many phone calls, letters written, emails exchange and meetings held over the last two years, Margaret Stanger received an email from the local MP Catherine Fookes saying the Aneurin Bevan Health Board has developed a Local Supplementary Service (LSS) “with contributions from the women's health service and the obstetrics and gynecology consultant advice.

This service is optional and will be offered to all GP practices over the coming weeks.

Finally in March 2026 after contacting the practice Margaret Stanger had a phone call confirming that Castlegate would resume treating them.

“Sadly it was too late for our friend Sue who passed away last year so she cannot join,” said Margaret.

So Marjorie and the two Margarets would like to join in by thanking all the following people who have helped them from David Davies, the former MP for Monmouth “to Senedd member Peter Fox, Sarah Harris from Dixon Surgery whose advice we passed on to MP Catherine Fookes’s office, Des Pugh for the Beacon for his help and support from day one and a huge thank you to MP Catherine Fookes and Melanie Rees, her senior case worker.

“Dame Leslie Regan, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Imperial College London to whom Catherine Fookes spoke to at the Womens’ Equalities Committee meeting and Rhian Bones-Davies, Old Peoples Commissioner for Wales are amongst many people Catherine Fookes contacted on our behalf.

“It is thanks to Catherine, supported by Melanie, that has got this funding for us,” added Margaret.