News » Political News, Wales » BMA highlights Welsh practice closures
June 20th 2024
The pre-general election emphasis has focused mainly on pay disputes, industrial action, and waiting times in secondary care. However, there lies a crisis in primary care that is dangerously overlooked but impacts us all, GPC Wales chair Dr Gareth Oelmann has told members.
In an update to Welsh BMA members, the BMA highlights the loss of almost 100 GP surgeries in Wales since 2013, and a 24 per cent fall in the number of full-time equivalent GPs that has pushed a third more patient consultations onto remaining GPs.
Dr Oelmann said: “Workload, workforce, and wellbeing are three contributing factors to the current predicament of GPs in Wales. If urgent action isn't taken, general practice could face a situation akin to NHS dentistry with ‘deserts’ of no service provision in many parts of the country making care inequitable.”
The update highlights the BMA’s Save Our Surgeries campaign, which launched in 2023, as well as a Senedd petition signed by over 21,500 people calling for fair resourcing of general practice.
It states that health board-managed practices cost the Welsh Government a third more (33 per cent) and offer fewer patient services.
Welsh Conservatives have held a debate on GP practices and funding.
