Written question WQ90029
- Asked by
- Andrew RT DaviesConservative
- To be answered by
- Minister for Health and Social Services
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 8 days
Question
Further to the First Minister's response to OQ60305, will the Minister confirm how many of the GPs captured in the 4 per cent growth in the head count of GPs in Wales in the last 12 months are undertaking 8 or more sessions per week?
Answer
Answered by Minister for Health and Social Services
As stated in OQ60305, between June 2022 and June 2023, the headcount of fully qualified GPs increased by 4% and their full time equivalent (FTE) increased by 1%. This data is published on StatsWales.
General practice workforce data collected through the Wales National Workforce Reporting System collects contracted hours not sessions. However, a ‘standard session’ is 4 hours and 10 mins (or 4.167 hours) so the number of contracted sessions can be approximated.
The growth in headcount is a result of more GPs joining than leaving in the 12 months prior to June 2023. There were 261 fully qualified GPs (headcount) who joined the workforce in this period. Table 1 summarises their hours and approximate sessions:
Table 1: Contracted hours and approximate sessions for GP joiners in the 12 months to June 2023
Hours
Approx sessions
GP headcount
% of joining GPs
<4.167
Less than 1
39
14.9%
4.167 < 8.334
At least 1 but less than 2
26
10.0%
8.334 < 12.501
At least 2 but less than 3
11
4.2%
12.501 < 16.668
At least 3 but less than 4
22
8.4%
16.668 < 20.835
At least 4 but less than 5
26
10.0%
20.835 < 25.002
At least 5 but less than 6
36
13.8%
25.002 < 29.169
At least 6 but less than 7
48
18.4%
29.169 < 33.336
At least 7 but less than 8
22
8.4%
33.336 < 37.503
At least 8 but less than 9