First Minister, according to the community health council, people in parts of Wales are facing a crisis of access to GPs. The Betsi health board estimates that in the local practices it manages demand for appointments has increased by up to 20 per cent, so of course this is exerting real pressure now on our front-line GPs, with them consulting more than ever whilst also using the phone to treat and serve our most vulnerable people.

In Wales, however, this problem has its roots elsewhere. Under the capitation allowance in England, practices cannot have more than 2,000 patients per doctor. With an ageing population of 65-plus, this number is then reduced further to 1,750 patients. However, in Wales, the Welsh Government allows an unrestricted number of patients per doctor. Your regulations also pay no attention to the number of patients over the age of 65. According to the July 2021 GP practice analysis produced by the shared services partnership, at one of my surgeries locally, with two registered doctors, there are 6,072 registered patients. To address waiting times, and then acknowledging the realities of modern life in England after the 2015 election of the UK Conservative Government, they amended the working hours of general practice to include two evenings to 8 p.m. plus a Saturday morning. So, you haven't taken those changes on board.