First Minister challenged over GP shortages in mid and west Wales

The Welsh Government was quizzed over the future of primary care provision for people living in the mid and west region.

Simon Thomas, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs for Plaid Cymru said:

“The communities of Porthmadog, Newtown, Cardigan, Tenby, Pembroke and Pembroke Dock, which have to wait a fortnight these days for an appointment with a GP, do feel that there is a crisis and they feel that there is a problem of recruitment and a shortage of GPs who are willing to stay in those areas.

“There are particular problems in terms of those who want to become partners in surgeries. The Party of Wales demands the Welsh Government take action now to recruit GPs. I asked about the future of the private surgery as part of the health service in primary care.”

The First Minister told Assembly Members that the Welsh Government will launch a GP recruitment campaign soon to portray Wales as a good place to be a doctor.

The recruitment drive will promote the flexibility that the profession now needs, moving not necessarily towards the independent contractor model as the default model, but to look at other models as well.

Mid and West AM Simon Thomas added: “Plaid Cymru’s Compact to Move Wales Forward agreement with the minority Welsh Government includes policies for the Welsh NHS.

“The compact pledges work on a New Treatment Fund for the NHS and a plan to increase the numbers of GPs and primary healthcare workers in Wales. The Welsh Government must keep to its promises.”

Concern was later expressed in the Senedd chamber about issues in the community of Kidwelly as well.