Does the Minister intend to adopt an assessment-of-need model for GP practices?
All GP practices across Wales must ensure that people are treated and cared for in the right way, at the right time, in the right place and with the right staff, as outlined in the 2015 Health and Care Standards for Wales.
The introduction of the GMS Access Commitment in April 2022 supports this approach by ensuring every patient in need of GP services is offered an appropriate consultation, such as a face-to-face or remote appointment. Patients will undergo a preliminary assessment in order to determine the right service for their healthcare need. To make sure the patient is receiving the best support, they may be signposted to another service, with the reasons for this clearly explained to them.
Welsh Government’s ‘Help Us, Help You’ campaign reinforces the needs-based model of delivery and sets clear expectations to the patient of what to expect when contacting their local GP practice. Further information on this campaign can be found here.