A MEMBER of the Senedd has labelled current pressures faced by GPs "extremely worrying" following a recent survey. 

Sam Rowlands, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, has demanded action after a survey said 91% of GPs in Wales are unable to meet patient demand.

Mr Rowlands, Shadow Health Minister, was commenting on a survey by BMA Cymru Wales which showed that 91% of GPs in Wales say they are unable to meet patient demand and 87% fear this is impacting patient safety following the closure of 100 surgeries.

100 GP surgeries in Wales have closed since 2012, GPs now see up to 35% more patients each, causing unsustainably high workloads and burnout with doctors forced to work less than full-time to survive.

Sam RowlandsSam Rowlands (Image: Welsh Parliament for North Wales)

This is resulting in an exodus of experienced GPs, with over half, 53% of GP partners planning their exit in the next three years and almost a third, 31% of salaried GPs intending to work less than full-time.

Mr Rowlands has repeatedly called for more to be done to encourage and retain GPs in Wales.

He said: “This latest data is extremely worrying and it is totally wrong that nearly all our GPs are feeling this sort of pressure and the knock on effect for patients.

“Our GPs need support and I would urge the Welsh Labour Government to start listening and taking action.

“I recently met with members of BMA Cymru Wales at the Senedd to discuss their ‘Save our Surgeries’ campaign and I fully support their calls for a rescue package to stop surgery closures.

“It is a scandal that all money received from the UK Government for health is not passed on to the health service in Wales.”

In response to the initial survey, a Welsh Government spokesperson said: “General practice plays an incredibly important role in the health service and is highly valued by the public and by us.

“We recognise the pressure GPs face and have heard the strength of feeling from the Save our Surgeries campaign. We are investing in new ways for people to access primary care services, including community pharmacy and the 111 helpline, to help relieve some of that pressure.

“Our investment in GP services has been increasing year on year – we invested an extra £20m last year, on top of £12m over three years to support practices to improve access to services.”