Written question WQ83735
- Asked by
- Andrew RT DaviesConservative
- To be answered by
- Minister for Health and Social Services
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 8 days
Question
What support has the Welsh Government offered to GP services that receive a large number of calls?
Answer
Answered by Minister for Health and Social Services
In 2019/20 Welsh Government invested £3.8m into the GMS contract for new digital telephony systems. This was followed in 2020/21 with further recurrent investment of £1.9m to fully fund the ongoing revenue telephone costs and to embed new ways of working.
In addition, Welsh Government have for the past 2 years relaxed some aspects of the GMS in-hours access standards to help support practices in dealing with the demands and pressures on GP services during the pandemic. Full achievement points have been awarded to all GP practices for standards subject to relaxation measures.
Welsh Government continues to engage with GPC Wales and RCGP Wales as well as monitoring pressures and ensuring that Health Boards are providing support to Practices when business continuity issues arise.