Access to Primary Care

Part of 2. Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services – in the Senedd at 2:39 pm on 1 December 2021.

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Photo of Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan Labour 2:39, 1 December 2021

Diolch yn fawr iawn, John. I'm pleased that we were able to make that announcement today. This has been several months of very sensitive negotiations with those people who have been on the front line for all that time. So, we had to get the balance right here, because, obviously, we have a responsibility to support the GPs, who are in a very difficult situation, but also to make sure that there is a decent provision and service for the people of Wales. And that's why we've really focused that GMS contract on the access issues that, as you have pointed out, so many of your constituents, and others, encounter, with that 8 a.m. bottleneck in particular a problem for so many, people trying time and time again to get through to their surgeries. 

So, we've announced today a £12 million contribution. Some of that will obviously go towards the 3 per cent pay rise, but also, we are ensuring that there will be additional support to invest in systems that will improve the way that people get through, but also, to get better planning in place in those surgeries so that they don't have that charge at a particular time of day. 

So, this is going to happen from April next year, but, obviously, we need to make sure that everything is in place and ready to go from April, which is why we made that announcement today.