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Save Our Surgeries III report

Writer: Morgannwg LMC
Morgannwg LMC
Oct 5
2 min read

Annwyl pawb / Dear all,


I am pleased to share with you the latest Save Our Surgeries III report (English | Cymraeg) and updated campaign page.


Three years ago, GPC Wales launched the first Save Our Surgeries campaign to highlight the growing pressures facing general practice and the risks these posed to the future sustainability of the NHS in Wales. Since then, the profession has continued to work tirelessly on behalf of patients despite rising demand, increasing workload, workforce shortages and ongoing financial pressures.


We have seen some important progress, including greater cross-party political recognition of the challenges facing general practice, and a Senedd Health & Social Care Committee inquiry that echoed many of the concerns raised by the profession. However, the fundamental issues remain unresolved. General practice continues to provide the vast majority of NHS patient contacts yet only receives around 6% of overall NHS funding.


Save Our Surgeries III moves beyond describing the challenges facing general practice. It sets out a positive vision for the future and a practical prescription for strengthening general practice as the foundation of a sustainable NHS in Wales.


The report demonstrates how sustained and meaningful investment in general practice can improve access, reduce pressure elsewhere in the NHS, support prevention and population health, tackle inequalities, and help deliver the shift of care closer to home that policymakers across Wales wish to achieve.


The report calls on Welsh Government to:

  • Restore investment in general practice by increasing the proportion of NHS Wales funding spent on General Medical Services.

  • Develop and support a sustainable GP workforce through recruitment, retention and training, while addressing GP underemployment and making best use of the available workforce.

  • Introduce national standards for safe working and manageable workloads.

  • Support and strengthen the GP partnership model, whilst reducing unnecessary risk and bureaucracy.

  • Ensure reform programmes, including Community by Design, are matched with sufficient investment and capacity.

  • Improve support for GP wellbeing and safe working conditions across Wales.

  • Reform funding and support arrangements for dispensing practices.


As with the previous phases of the campaign, Save Our Surgeries III is built around our three core pillars:

Workforce – ensuring Wales has sufficient GPs and practice teams to meet patient need.

Workload – ensuring work transferred into general practice is appropriately resourced and that practices can deliver safe, sustainable care.

Wellbeing – supporting the sustainability of practices and the health and wellbeing of the workforce on which the NHS depends.


Our message remains simple: if we want an NHS that is fit for the future, we must start by securing its front door. Save our surgeries to save the NHS.


I would be grateful if you could take the time to read the report and share it with colleagues, stakeholders and anyone with an interest in the future of healthcare in Wales.

Thank you for your continued support of general practice in Wales and for everything you do on behalf of patients and communities across the country.


Cofion gorau / Kind regards


Dr Gareth Oelmann

Chair, GPC Wales

 
 

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