Access to GPs in Blaenau Gwent

Part of 2. Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services – in the Senedd at 2:18 pm on 1 May 2019.

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Photo of Mark Reckless Mark Reckless Conservative 2:18, 1 May 2019

Aneurin Bevan health board confirmed to me today that of their 398 GPs, only 34 of those are in Blaenau Gwent, and that's 8.5 per cent of the total compared to perhaps the around 12 per cent we'd expect by population. One way they try and tackle this is through the directly employed GPs, and I was pleased to hear that, actually, the majority of those were in Blaenau Gwent, but less pleased to hear that that meant only four out of the seven full-time equivalents.

Does the Minister think that these managed GPs, directly employed by the health boards, could be significantly expanded in number to at least in part address the shortages and difficulties of access to GPs in Blaenau Gwent?