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)
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)
Category
đź—ž
NewsTranscript
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.