Member
Andrew R.T. Davies South Wales Central
WQ90029 (e) Tabled on 05/12/2023

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?

Answered by Minister for Health and Social Services | Answered on 13/12/2023

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

20

7.7%

>37.503

At least 9 or more

11

4.2%

 

Approximately 12% of fully qualified GPs who joined the workforce in the 12 months to June 2023 were contracted to 8 sessions or more.

Almost one quarter (24.9%) of fully qualified GPs who joined were contracted to less than 2 sessions, as the majority of these GPs are locums. In contrast 3.1% of fully qualified permanent GPs who joined (excluding locums) were contracted to less than 2 sessions.