Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:20 pm on 28 September 2021.
Thank you, Llywydd. Well, I'll answer the question that wasn't just an attempt to make a naked political point, because the Member did make a series of important points in the first part of her question. Look, technological solutions to GP consultations are here to stay. They are now an important and integral part of the way in which primary care services will be provided in the future. But the proportion of consultations that are carried out face to face is growing all the time; I think it's back to about half of consultations in Wales are now face-to-face consultations. And I think the answer I have to give to the Member is that we just have to be prepared to trust the judgment of clinicians. They are best placed to know whether somebody can be just as effectively provided with a service by a telephone conversation or a consultation via video link, or whether it is necessary for the person to be seen face to face. Now, you need the technology to underpin that, and I know that there are some GP practices in the Member's own constituency where there's been recent investment to make sure there's an improved telephone service so people are able to get through on the phone and get the consultation that they need. But when that is properly in place, I think it is a clinical judgment as to whether or not the patient can be just as effectively treated via the technological route, or whether or not someone needs—for very good reasons, often—to be seen face to face.