AN MS says he is “deeply concerned” about the challenges facing rural GP practices in Powys, following claims from one surgery that fears it could be forced to close over a lack of funding.
Llandrindod Wells Medical Practice has said it will be forced to make “difficult decisions” over the level of service it can deliver to patients going forward, due to “insufficient” funding from the Welsh Government.
The Spa Rd East-based practice warned patients last week to expect changes in the coming months to the range of services it provides and the way services are delivered due to a lack of income.
READ MORE: Llandrindod medical practice fears it could close over funding crisis
James Evans, Member of the Senedd (MS) for Brecon and Radnorshire, raised the issue in the Senedd this week with health minister Eluned Morgan, saying he had been inundated by constituents worried for the future of county surgeries.
“The healthcare system is currently facing huge challenges and pressures and I am deeply concerned about any future withdrawal of services,” said Mr Evans.
“Our GPs are responsible for the majority of healthcare contacts each and every day and they are the backbone of the NHS, often not getting the same recognition as the hospital-led services.
“An efficient and effective GP service saves the NHS thousands of pounds by avoiding unnecessary admissions and reducing pressures on our ambulance service and A&E departments.
“As such it must be adequately financed by the Welsh Labour Government. When I raised this in the Senedd this week, the health minister’s reply gave me no assurances that our GP practices will be adequately funded going forward to meet the increasing pressures and demands being placed on them.”
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In response to Mr Evans’ question, Ms Morgan said: “Most GPs are independent consultants and they have to balance the books once they have made a contract with us.
“We have a contractual negotiation with them, and one of the things we’ve done is to change the way that the public interacts with GPs, so we haven’t seen the kind of problems that they’re still encountering in England in relation to the 8am block.
“Things are very different here now in Wales and it’s significant the reduction in volume when it comes to patients getting access to GP services in Wales.
“So that really has to be a decision for them, in terms of where they put their money, how many people they employ. We do an all-Wales negotiation in relation to that.”
Due to the chronic underfunding of the NHS for years, Llandrindod Wells Medical Practice has described the system as “on the brink of collapse”.
In a Facebook post on January 10, the practice, said: “We are having to make difficult decisions that will affect the level of service we can deliver to our patients.
“The income we receive from (the) Welsh Government to provide medical care to patients is insufficient for us to carry on providing the current range of services.
“If the situation doesn’t improve, we fear the surgery will close and the services we provide will be lost.”
Mr Evans is encouraging communities to join him in advocating for the protection of healthcare services by reaching out and signing the online petition.
You can sign and share the petition, which currently has more than 17,500 signatures, at https://petitions.senedd.wales/petitions/245944.
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