7. Will the First Minister make a statement on access to GP medical services in Montgomeryshire? OAQ(5)0621(FM)

We continue to work with the health board and other partners in Wales to take a range of actions to improve access to healthcare services that are safe and sustainable and as close to people’s homes as possible.

Thank you, First Minister. I’ve been contacted by a parent who has been trying to arrange for a simple medical examination for her daughter at her local surgery in Newtown. This is a requirement in advance of her going abroad to study. Now, the surgery has made the decision not to undertake any further medicals of this nature due to the GP shortage. No other practices in the area are able to also offer an appointment. The parent has even offered to pay. My office has been in contact with the local health board, who are also not able to offer any support.

So, as it stands, from my understanding, the only option available now for this young lady to get a medical that she needs to go and study abroad is to pay for it privately, and she would need to go—the nearest area to do this would be somewhere in England. So (1) I’d be grateful if you could offer any advice to my constituent, and (2) if you could offer any update on the shortage of GPs that we see, particularly in mid Wales, which is becoming—I’m sure you would agree also—more of a crisis that we have to deal with.

I don’t understand the view taken by the GP practice. What I don’t know, of course, without—. I would invite him to write to me as well, of course, with more details, but GPs don’t provide every service for free. Some services have always been paid for. GPs are sometimes paid through the NHS if, for example, they carry out blood tests. Sometimes, of course, they charge the individual directly—signing for things, quite often. So, I don’t know whether this is a service that would routinely be provided on the NHS or not. But he has raised the issue with me. If he provides me with details, I will, of course, respond.