Montgomeryshire MS, Russell George sponsored the British Medical Association Cymru Wales (BMA) event in the Senedd this week (17/07/2024) in support of a campaign called ‘Save our Surgeries’
BMA Cymru launched their ‘Save our Surgeries’ campaign in June 2023. The Save Our Surgeries campaign asks Welsh Government to commit to a rescue package for General Practice, to provide GPs and their patients with the support they need. Survey data, which was shared with members of the Senedd at BMA Cymru Wales’ Save Our Surgeries event today, exposed an alarming 87% of GPs feared their rising workloads were impacting patient safety as Wales saw its 100th GP surgery close this year.
The BMA say that GPs are now seeing up to 35% more patients, leading to unsustainable workloads, and increasing instances of burnout and, many doctors have been forced to reduce their working hours to cope with the strain.
One year on from the launch of their campaign, BMA Cymru Wales teamed up with Montgomeryshire Senedd member, Russell George to host phase two of their campaign in the Senedd in an attempt to engage politicians and wider stakeholders. BMA Cymru Wales is calling on the Welsh Government to introduce an urgent rescue package as part of their Save Our Surgeries campaign.
The package seeks a fairer allocation of the NHS budget, national standards for patient safety, and strategies to improve GP retention and recruitment. Measures to support staff wellbeing are also critical.
Mr George opened the event, welcoming GPs to the Senedd, as well as representatives from other organisations before the event moved on to a panel discussion with Dr Gareth Oelmann, Dr Rowena Christmas and Dr Sara Bodey.
Commenting after the event, Mr George said:
‘I was very glad to be able to sponsor this event in the Senedd held by BMA Cymru Wales, as we unite for a cause that is so important – the "Save Our Surgeries" campaign.
Our GP surgeries are more than just buildings, GPs are often the first point of contact when people have a health concern.
There is a critical need for investment in our healthcare infrastructure and it is of critical importance that we ensure that our surgeries have the resources they need to serve communities across Montgomeryshire effectively.
Over recent years I have spoken to GP’s locally who have outlined to me directly the pressures they are under, and I am fully aware that many practices do not have the full complement of doctors that are needed to serve the population.
We need the restoration of NHS funding for general practice before we see a total collapse of this service in Wales.’
