September 28, 2021 - 690 views
Welsh Government has been challenged over the guidance and support available to GPs to enable improved engagement with North Wales patients.
The intervention from Abeconwy MS Janet Finch-Saunders comes as constituents continue to report concerns about their ability to access face-to-face appointments.
The Community Health Council has told BBC News Wales that many patients have been left waiting for up to an hour on the phone to speak to someone. Local GPs have also shared their experiences of exhaustion and frustration with our health system.
Commenting after her question, Mrs. Finch-Saunders said: “An increasing number of constituents have contacted my office to raise concerns about their ability to secure a face-to-face appointment with local GPs, with some repeatedly told that all appointments at their practice are frequently fully booked.
“The strain on our Primary Care services is also a most serious concern. The Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has estimated that, in practices it manages, demand for appointments had increased by up to 20%. This is only seeing problems around the well-being of staff become more pronounced.
“Given that Age Cymru found that nearly nine out of ten people aged 75 and over consulted their GP during 2017-18, the measures enacted by the Welsh Government during the pandemic are now acting as a barrier to those that need urgent medical assistance.
“Not everyone can or will consider an online or telephone appointment for private and sensitive personal health issues. It is vital that the Welsh Government reviews the guidance and support available to our GPs so that they can be empowered to enable a much easier and greater interface with patients.”
