GP appointment changes to end "8am bottleneck" in Wales
The new Welsh Government terms include a 3% rise for GPs and surgery staff
Last updated 1st Dec 2021
The Welsh Government has announced changes to the GP contract which are aimed at improving patients' access to appointments.
Health Minister Eluned Morgan said the changes, which are backed by ÂŁ12 million of extra investment, are dedicated to ending the daily struggle involved with booking a doctor's appointment.
A primary feature of the revised contract is an access commitment which will help ensure people are triaged appropriately and, if an appointment is necessary, that they receive one which is right for their clinical needs.
Where appropriate, people may be signposted to another service - or healthcare professional - who can help or support them.
The new terms also include a 3% pay increase for GPs and all practice staff, and in-year funding to alleviate winter pressures on the health system.
Ms Morgan said:
"We know GPs and their staff are under significant pressure at the moment. They have played a really important role during the pandemic.
"I am very pleased we have been able to agree a new contract which rewards all staff working in general practice with a pay rise.
"We have also agreed a way forward to improve the appointment system. I want to see an end to the 8am bottleneck where patients have to telephone their practice numerous times, day after day, to get an appointment.
"The extra funding announced today will support GP practices to build capacity and implement more efficient booking systems to better manage patient need. I have also announced an extra ÂŁ2 million to help meet the immediate pressures our GPs will face this winter."
Dr Phil White, chairman of GPC Wales, welcomed the changes, but said it is vital the public understands the challenges facing the sector:
"We are pleased that our collaborative working relationship with Welsh Government and NHS Wales has resulted in a contractual agreement which we hope will go some way to support practices under great duress."
Dr White added that it is "crucial that patients understand the pressures facing the profession and what the existing workforce can realistically deliver".
He continued: "Put simply, there are not enough GPs working in primary care to manage current levels of demand.
"We believe that the Welsh Government understand the existential challenge GP practices face, and we are committed to continuing to work together to ensure that patients can access a better resourced general practice service in the future."