WQ97641 (e) Tabled on 27/10/2025

What consideration has the Cabinet Secretary given to updating guidance to allow patients to receive a referral for intravenous antibiotic treatment by a general practitioner?

Answered by Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care | Answered on 30/10/2025

General Practitioners are already able to refer patients to Outpatient Parenteral Antibiotic Therapy (OPAT) services where clinically appropriate. These services are commissioned and delivered by NHS Wales Health Boards and Trusts and are tailored to meet the needs of local populations.

We continue to work closely with clinical leads and Health Boards to ensure that service models are safe, effective, and responsive to local needs. This includes ongoing consideration of how guidance and referral pathways can best support timely access to intravenous antibiotic treatment in community settings.