‘Bold action needed’ as GP services in Wales reach ‘critical point’

General practice and primary care in Wales has reached a critical point, with “bold action” needed to ensure that services can be delivered closer to people’s homes.

That is the view of the Senedd’s Health and Social Care Committee, which has today published a new report urging the incoming Welsh Government to ensure people have timely access to strong and well-resourced preventative services in their community.

It stresses that this will require a carefully managed transition, with a commitment to double funding for a period of time.

A long‑term prevention‑focused model

The committee found that unless the NHS prioritises prevention, demand will continue to outstrip capacity.

The report argues that investing in general practice is one of the most effective ways to deliver preventative care, improve management of long-term conditions, and reduce avoidable hospital admissions. However, years of underinvestment and a declining GP workforce threaten progress.

During the committee’s inquiry members heard that general practice is in decline across Wales due to chronic underinvestment, a growing number of practices closing and a “beleaguered workforce.”

John Williams, a Practice Manager from Wrexham, told the committee that “general practice doesn’t seem to be seen, particularly within health boards, as a possible solution to other problems it’s facing.”

He added that whilst GP practices are struggling, the sector has “huge expertise that could be harnessed” if provided with proper resources and a contract to enable this.

“8am scramble”

The morning rush for appointments remains one of the biggest frustrations for the public.

The report notes that while the First Minister has been “quoted as saying that people should no longer be waiting on hold at 8am every day to get GP appointments”, the 8am phone rush remains a “common frustration”.

Age Cymru told the committee that older people are being left without access to the care they need due to the current system, while younger people said it was “inaccessible” for those with commitments.

Lack of continuity, short appointment times and overwhelming demand also contribute to the negative public perception.

Dr Towner, a GP in Cardiff said the 8am rush could be avoided if the sector was funded properly and able to recruit more staff.

The Committee is calling on the incoming Welsh Government to strengthen access standards, reduce reliance on time-limited booking windows, and rebuild trust by restoring continuity and communication with patients.

Reform of the GP funding formula

The funding formula used to allocate core funding to GP practices – the Carr-Hill model – no longer reflects the needs of the Welsh population, the committee found.

The report describes the existing funding model as outdated and poorly aligned with the “healthcare needs of the Welsh population.”

Whilst the committee acknowledges that formula changes alone will not address the need for wider investment, a review into the funding system is “long overdue.”

It was also revealed that practices serving the most deprived communities receive significantly less funding despite higher levels of illness and greater demand.

The Committee warns that continuing with the current formula risks deepening inequalities and undermining the sustainability of general practice. It calls on the incoming Welsh Government to commit to reforming the formula, and publish the timescales for doing so.

Evidence from professionals

Over the course of its inquiry, the Committee took evidence from GPs, practice nurses, practice managers and other health professionals, and from representative bodies such as the British Medical Association (BMA) and Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP).

Dr Rowena Christmas MBE, Chair of RCGP Cymru Wales said: “This inquiry has been a valuable opportunity to consider how people experience general practice and what practical steps the government can take to support GPs to deliver meaningful continuity of care which works for our patients.

“It makes sense for the patient, the wider NHS and the taxpayer to invest in general practice.”

Dr Gareth Oelmann, chair of the BMA’s Welsh GP Committee said: “BMA Cymru Wales valued the opportunity to share the challenges facing general practice in Wales with the committee, and we welcome the publication of the report.

“We look forward to engaging constructively with the incoming Welsh Government to secure the long‑term sustainability of general practice and to help deliver the shared aims of our Save Our Surgeries campaign.”

Chair of the Senedd’s Health and Social Care Committee, Peter Fox MS, said: “General practice and primary care are the cornerstone of our NHS. If we are to ease the growing pressures across the whole health system, we must shift towards prevention and ensure people can access services closer to home.

“This means investing in care that helps people stay well and receive treatment earlier in their communities, but doing so in a way that is safe, planned, and properly supported.

“Delivering a truly community‑focused model will require bold action, and we must restore patients’ trust in their local services. The message is clear, we cannot resolve the pressures in our hospitals unless we strengthen general practice and primary care.”

The report’s key recommendations include:

A phased shift of selected services into primary and community care, supported by a period of dual‑funding to ensure safety and continuity.
A strengthened focus on prevention, with general practice at the centre.
Urgent review of the GP funding formula (Carr‑Hill) with clear timelines for reform.
Improved GP access standards, reducing reliance on the “8am scramble”.
A national workforce plan to grow and retain the workforce.

The report urges the incoming Welsh Government to act decisively to ensure general practice is properly supported to deliver the care people need – now and for the future.

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