Concerns raised by MS over closures of GP surgeries

Llyr Gruffydd, who represents the region in the Senedd has warned that many more could close in the next few years as a report shows that more than a quarter of GPs are considering quitting the profession.

Figures from StatsWales from January 2023 show that there are 104 active GP practices in the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) area, compared to 115 in September 2013.

BCUHB also has 13 GP practices under its direct control, which is the highest number for any health board in Wales. The figure represents 50% of all the managed practices in the country.

A practice becomes managed when a GP partner hands back their contract to the health board.

A recent study also showed 26.6% of GPs could see themselves quitting the profession. 

Llyr Gruffydd

Llyr Gruffydd MS said: “The closure of 11 GP practices in North Wales is concerning for medical professionals and patients.

“GPs are not getting the support they need from the Welsh Government and this will, despite their dedicated service and remarkable efforts, inevitably have a detrimental impact on the care patients receive.

”It’s incredibly worrying that over a quarter of GPs are considering quitting the profession. 

“The strain has been felt up and down the country, we have heard from GPs who have been unable to recruit permanent staff for years on end, examples of extreme burnout and a rising number of surgeries having to close their doors as a result leaving thousands of patients having to be treated elsewhere.

“It’s a vicious cycle because this in turn puts even more pressure on the GPs that remain and makes them more likely to leave the profession.

“There are long-standing serious issues at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and the closure of so many local hospitals over the last 10 years is yet another cause for concern.

“All of this unfortunately means that the long-suffering people of North Wales are not getting the health care they need or deserve."

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: "As is the trend across the UK, we expect to see a shift towards larger GP practices, with a wider skill mix of healthcare professionals in one setting, providing a greater range of healthcare services locally.

"We continue to take steps to reduce pressure on GPs, such as the introduction of NHS 111 Wales and increasing the range of services community pharmacists can provide. The new unified GP contract will help to reduce bureaucracy and free up more time for GPs to see patients.

“We have seen a significant increase in the take up of GP training places across Wales since the rollout of our Train Work Live campaign.

 “We have also provided financial incentives to attract GP trainees to speciality training schemes in mid, north and west Wales, areas which historically have been difficult to recruit for.” 

Adele Gittoes, interim executive chief operating officer, said: “There are well documented problems across the UK with attracting and retaining GPs and North Wales has those same issues.

“While the number of surgeries look to have declined, some of this is due to satellite practices relocating to main centres, some are mergers and others are the result of single-handed practices closing because the doctor has retired or relocated.

“It takes years to train GPs and this is why we are committed to the North Wales Medical School, as a way of recruiting for the future, and medical student numbers are being expanded at Bangor University. The hope is doctors who train here, stay here.

“We are also trying innovative ways of attracting GPs to North Wales and retaining those who train here by developing their special interests, such as rural health, health inequality and other fields of research.

“Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) has given us funding to develop advanced clinical practice across North Wales, with significant investment in developing the practice nurse workforce

“This aligns with our drive to keep developing health and wellbeing centres where a range of healthcare professionals, not just GPs, can offer a variety of services and promote preventative medicine.

“The long-term goal has to be a fitter and healthier population, supported by modern and fit for purpose services, as well as serving our population as efficiently as we can now.”