Questions Without Notice from the Party Leaders

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:41 pm on 10 May 2022.

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Photo of Andrew RT Davies Andrew RT Davies Conservative 1:41, 10 May 2022

Thank you, Presiding Officer. First Minister, when I was going round Wales over the last couple of weeks, which was far more profitable for you than me as it turned out last Thursday—[Laughter.]—there were many things that were raised with me as I went round Wales, but one of the key themes that came across in all parts of Wales was access to GPs and the ability to get appointments in GP surgeries. And the recent announcement from the Welsh Government over the workforce planning and the money that's going to be made available talks of funding 160 places per year, but, according to the BMA, to meet the demand requirement, we're going to need to be funding close to 200 places to make sure that we're replacing people who are retiring or leaving the workforce or reducing their hours.

Another point that is being made by the BMA is that just over two thirds of doctors here in Wales only work full-time hours, so nearly a third are on part-time hours, and equally we have a higher number of GPs who are over 60—23 per cent of GPs in Wales are currently over 60. That's creating, I hope you will agree with me, real pressure in shaping the service for the future. So, do you agree with me that there is an issue about ramping up the number of training places for GP provision here in Wales, and also making sure that we create a service that is fit for the future and able to be accessed by patients wherever you live in Wales?