June 4th 2026

By Ailsa Colquhoun

New Welsh chiefs pledge support for rural areas and GPs

In their first speeches to the Welsh Senedd, the Plaid Cymru first minister and Cabinet health minster have pledged support for rural areas, and for GPs.

First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth told the Senedd that his ambition was that people in rural Wales should know that this government is on their side, as people in urban areas should too. He said: “We have to make sure that no area is disadvantaged.”

For GPs, Cabinet Minister for Health and Care Mabon ap Gwynfor said: “Long-term planning, strategic coherence and prudent, targeted investment … will be complemented by long-overdue reforms in both primary and social care. 

“We will expand access to out-of-hours primary care, recruit up to 100 new salaried GPs and scope a detailed review of funding for general practice.”