North Pembrokeshire GP practices will be working closely with Pembrokeshire Counselling Service to improve the wellbeing of their patients with improved access to quality counselling services.

The cluster of GP practices has allocated some of their cluster funding to Pembrokeshire Counselling Service.

Welciming the news, PCS’s lead officer, Peter Sargent, said: “This will help Pembrokeshire Counselling Service continue vital work for the next three years; we are most grateful to these GPs for their support.”

Elaine Lorton, assistant director of primary care for Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “This is a fantastic demonstration of how partnership working can lead to improved services being available to our population.

“This is a really positive step forward made available by collaborative work based on patient need.”

Dr Rhodri Jones, of Winch Lane Surgery, said that this funding recognised the efforts of volunteer counsellors, their supervisors and the trustees (both past and present) in providing counselling free of charge to people with a variety of mental health issues.

“We can therefore continue to avoid making unnecessary referrals to an overstretched Community Mental Health Care Team,” he added. “Eighty five percent of client contacts with the service had been signposted by their GP. After several years of dwindling income and a risk that the organisation would struggle to exist, we can now move forward financially secure and use this opportunity to enhance the service further.”

Pembrokeshire Counselling Service offer six free, confidential counselling sessions to clients throughout Pembrokeshire. Sessions are held at free venues across the county to suit the transport needs of clients. Clients can self refer to the service by contacting their telephone operators or via their website.

Counselling and telephone assessments are carried out by appropriately qualified counsellors. PCS adhere to the Ethical Framework of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy. Clients may be signposted to other specialised organisations if it is deemed necessary. Other supporting volunteer staff and trustees ensure the service is available to as many people as possible. General expenses of running the service mean that PCS depend upon donations and funding to survive. There is an increasing demand for free counselling.

Last year, the service counselled in the region of 170 clients, most clients were referred by their GP. At the present time, PCS are looking for the following to assist with the running of the service:

Trustees - people who are willing and able to give some of their time to help further this prestigious service.

Qualified, experienced counsellors, who can work from home, assessing telephone referrals for a couple of hours a week

Counsellors who are either qualified or in diploma/foundation degree training.

If you think you are able to offer some time, please contact the service, tel. 01437 768708, email: [email protected], website: pembrokeshirecounsellingservice.org