<p>Helping the NHS Prepare for the Forthcoming Winter </p>

Part of 1. 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:07 pm on 27 September 2016.

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Photo of Caroline Jones Caroline Jones UKIP 2:07, 27 September 2016

Thank you, First Minister. Last winter, we saw unprecedented levels of demand on unscheduled care. People struggling to get access to a GP over the winter months put enormous strain on our A&E departments as patients go there to seek medical treatment. According to the RCN, our hospitals are so full all year round that the system cannot cope with the seasonal spike in demand. We have to address the GP-access issue if we are to avoid the scenes we saw last winter with ambulances stacked up outside hospitals. What plans does the Welsh Government have to improve the out-of-hours GP service and make greater use of community pharmacies in treating minor ailments this winter? Will you be running a publicity campaign highlighting the role of pharmacies in treating minor ailments?