10. Will the First Minister make a statement on GP shortages in Wales? OAQ(5)0288(FM)[W]

General practitioners in primary care remain critical to the success of the NHS in Wales. We continue to respond to the current and future challenges for GPs and, of course, we have our campaign to market Wales as an attractive place for doctors’ careers and in which to live and work.

Well, First Minister, the shortage is critical in some areas—not across Wales, I would agree, but, in certain areas, such as southern Pembrokeshire, there is a grave shortage of GPs. There is a recruitment campaign ongoing, I accept that, but, in the meantime, what are you doing to ensure that primary care is available to all in areas such as southern Pembrokeshire by using pharmacies and using nurse practitioners and alternative methods of employing of employing GPs directly?

The Member is talking about Choose Well, an initiative that we have to ensure that patients go to see the pharmacist first, and then nurses in surgeries. Then, only after that, they would go to the GP surgery, and that would take the pressure off them. Where GPs surgeries are closing down, the service is then taken over by the health boards and the service continues. But, there is a question for the profession at the end of the day. More and more young GPs want to be salaried and not have to buy in to a surgery, and that’s something the profession will have to deal with over the coming years.

I thank the First Minister.