Questions Without Notice from the Party Leaders

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:45 pm on 10 May 2022.

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Photo of Andrew RT Davies Andrew RT Davies Conservative 1:45, 10 May 2022

Thank you for the answer, First Minister. It is a fact that there are more GPs in Wales, but it is a fact, obviously, that many are part-time, as I said in my opening remarks to you. Nearly a third of the workforce is on a part-time basis when it comes to GP practices. Importantly, as I said to you, I recognise that there's an increased number of GPs being trained, but the actual figures show that the Government is funding training places to about 160 a year, when the actual demand is 200 places. So, what I'm looking for from you today, First Minister, and I'm sure those connected with primary medical care here in Wales will look for as well, is a commitment from the Welsh Government to actually meet the demand that the requirement needs, which is to put another 40 places on the table so that we can get to 200 training places here in Wales to meet what the workforce of 2030 will need to look like in the primary sector. I agree entirely with the remarks you make that the primary sector is broader than just GP practices—pharmacists in particular offer a very, very important role in supporting GPs in the work they do—but it is a fact that, underpinning entry into the NHS, you need a robust and sustainable GP workforce and, as I said, the modelling shows that we need to be training 200 GPs a year rather than the 160 we are at the moment. Will you commit to that?