Thank you for your statement, Cabinet Secretary. I am pleased that the Welsh Government accept that there is a crisis in the primary care field. We wish you every success with this campaign, because Wales badly needs more GPs, otherwise we have a massive problem. Unfortunately, your proposals will do little to help us in the here-and-now situation. With the NHS preparing for the annual winter pressures, we are already seeing more burdens placed on primary care. The Royal College of General Practitioners tell us that some of the health boards’ winter pressure plans call for greater work throughout—that primary care services in some areas are already at, or over capacity. So these plans are not viable at present.

What is the Welsh Government doing to ensure that winter planning does not place additional burdens on primary care? Until we have sufficient numbers of GPs to reduce the workload on our existing primary care staff, we must do more to reduce the burden on general practice. Cabinet Secretary, what consideration has the Welsh Government given to providing additional funding to GP practices to employ clinical staff in order to reduce the GP workload? We welcome the news that the next phase of the campaign will look at the challenges faced by other primary care professions.

However, Cabinet Secretary, much more needs to be done to encourage and train staff, such as paramedics, physiotherapists and occupational health nurses, to work in primary care instead of their traditional role in secondary care. Will the Welsh Government undertake the work to ensure that primary care is seen as a viable career option to those considering a career in secondary care? The Royal College of GPs tell us that currently most GPs and their staff are currently overstretched. What is the Welsh Government doing to ensure GPs and their staff, who are suffering from stress due to excessive workloads, are fully supported and have access to occupational health services themselves?

And, finally, Cabinet Secretary, it is widely acknowledged that primary care is vastly underfunded, and while we welcome the funding you have announced today, the Royal College of GPs tell us that the clusters are not working in some areas, with money slow to filter through. What is the Welsh Government doing to ensure that the funding announced today actually makes it to the front line? Thank you. Diolch yn fawr.