Will the Minister make a statement on the lack of GPs in Cardigan? W
The Welsh Government will shortly be bringing forward proposals for a national and international recruitment campaign to market NHS Wales as an attractive place to work. This includes work to recruit, train and retain GPs and other primary care professionals to address the issues faced across Wales, including in the Cardigan area. We will also continue to support the development of new models of care.
In Cardigan, Hywel Dda University Health Board has been actively supporting and working with GP practices to recruit additional GPs in what is a challenging recruitment market across the whole of the UK. However, Ashleigh Surgery recently served notice to the health board in response to a GP retirement due in January 2017.
The health board has a responsibility to ensure the on-going provision of high quality primary care services for their patients. They will need to evaluate all options for future service delivery, including alternative models of care utilising a wide range of health care professionals to meet local health needs. This includes letting a new contract or taking the practice into health board management. The health board has held a public meeting to seek views from the community and is now considering a range of options. I expect them to continue to work with the local community to ensure local residents are kept informed and involved.