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A GP has blasted Public Health Wales for refusing to tell him whether a patient at his surgery tested positive for the coronavirus.

Last week, the Lonfa practice in Llandudno Junction was shut after a patient visited and Public Health Wales asked that the surgery be given a deep clean.

The surgery later reopened, but Public Health Wales did not say whether the cleaning was related to fears over the coronavirus.

However, Dr Mike Bloom, who runs the surgery, has now confirmed that it was related to fears over the virus.

He also said that, although the patient in question was tested, Public Health Wales refused to tell him whether the person had the virus or not.

Dr Bloom, who also runs GP practices in Glan Conwy and Llandudno, said: "A patient came to see me who had just returned from a skiing trip in Italy, and who displayed coronavirus symptoms.

"That person has been tested to see whether they have the virus, but Public Health Wales are refusing to tell me the result."

Dr Bloom said he was "angry" as staff and other patients at the surgery had been exposed to the person.

He said: "I have phoned Public Health Wales four times this week, but they have told me it's not their policy to tell people confidential information on the phone.

"I asked them to email me on my NHS email and they refused, saying the information will not be disclosed.

"I think that's a ridiculous situation, that they can't give an honest answer to someone in the medical profession."

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Public Health Wales was approached for a comment and referred North Wales Live to a statement made by Wales' chief medical officer Dr Frank Atherton.

Speaking on Thursday, Dr Atherton said: "All appropriate measures to provide care for the individual and to reduce the risk of transmission to others are being taken.

"I'd like to take this opportunity to assure the public that Wales and the whole of the UK is well prepared for these types of incidents.

"Working with our partners in Wales and the UK, we have implemented our planned response, with robust infection control measures in place to protect the health of the public."