Jane Dodds calls for more support for rural GPs

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Jane Dodds has called for more support for rural GPs in Wales.  Speaking in the Senedd this week, the Mid and West Wales MS said she has visited quite a few rural GPs recently to discuss the challenges they face.  (Video from Senedd.tv)

Transcript

00:00 May 1 from the Minister of Health again, regarding increasing support for our rural GPs.

00:06 I've visited quite a few rural GPs in Powys across the last week or so to talk with them

00:12 about the challenges that they face.

00:14 A common theme that comes out of the discussions is that the current contractual set-ups and

00:19 funding models do not sufficiently account for the extra services that they provide,

00:26 such as phlebotomy, same-day appointments, et cetera, that rural surgeries have to provide,

00:32 because in urban areas you may have them at hand.

00:36 So, I'm backing a rural GP payment in order to ensure that we're able to support our rural

00:45 GPs.

00:46 So, I'd welcome a statement from the Minister regarding the support to our rural GPs, and

00:50 also, secondly, could I request a statement from the Minister for Climate Change on progress

00:55 with remediating unsafe residential buildings in Wales?

00:59 I'd be very grateful for a statement on what assessment she has made of the recent tribunal

01:06 case, and in particular whether Welsh legislation is now falling behind that of England.

01:12 Diolch yn fawr iawn.

01:13 Julie James AM: Thank you.

01:15 It is obvious that GPs in rural areas probably have to provide different services to their

01:21 patients than perhaps in urban areas.

01:24 I visited a GP surgery myself in Wrexham in the constituency on Friday, where it was incredible

01:31 to see the range of services that they do provide.

01:33 So, I think it probably is done on a surgery-by-surgery basis, but I absolutely accept the point that

01:39 you make around rural GPs.

01:42 I know the Minister has been working very hard around a marketing campaign to make sure

01:47 rural surgeries are able to make new GPs coming there attractive going forward, because we've

01:56 seen a significant increase in the take-up of GP training places, but perhaps more in

02:01 the urban areas than the rural areas.

02:03 I'm not sure if a rural surgery payment has been looked at, but you will be aware of,

02:11 obviously, there were financial incentives offered for GPs back from, I think, about

02:16 2017.

02:17 In relation to building safety, I know the Minister did update Senate members back in

02:24 November, I think it was, about three months ago.

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