Written question WQ84252

In Wales, GPs are not employed by the NHS but are independent contractors who work within the parameters of their general medical service (GMS) contract to provide services to their NHS patients. GP practices ultimately are responsible for monitoring their patient lists numbers and preventing oversubscribing.

Whilst each health board sets the geographical boundary in which a GP practice forms its patient list, the number of patients is down to the discretion of the practice. The patient registration system enables the proper distribution of funding and resource planning. Practices themselves are best placed to decide on the mix of staff they need to meet the reasonable needs of patients.

Across Wales, practices are facing enormous pressures in dealing with the continuing public health emergency, alongside high levels of patient demand for non-covid related illness. I have made £2m new funding available during 2021-22, to support additional winter capacity. This is to fund additional staff resources above what is already in place within GMS.