North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has called for an urgent statement on Welsh Government support for GP practices to implement the new GP contract, highlighting the case of Hanmer Surgery on the Welsh border between Wrexham and Whitchurch, .which is unable to comply with the new regulations because their plans for a purpose-built premises are not receiving the urgent attention they should be from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
In yesterday’s meeting of the Welsh Parliament, Mr Isherwood, who has previously written to Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board urging the Health Board to support plans for the proposed redevelopment of Hanmer GP Surgery, told how the Health Board are hampering progress and called for an urgent Welsh Government Statement on this case and the wider implications for primary care services in that area.
He said:
“I call for a Statement from the Minister for Health and Social Services on Welsh Government support for GP practices to implement the new GP contract in Wales starting this year. For example, the single consulting room, cramped and crowded workspace, and restricted waiting room at Hanmer Surgery, near the Shropshire border in North-East Wales, means that their GP is unable to comply with the new regulations. He has been seeking to develop a purpose-built premises, fit for the demands of the 21st Century-and the increasing GP contractual obligations required by the Welsh Government, since 2012. A nearby site was identified over a decade ago.
“We know that an investigation into Governance and Leadership at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is currently taking place, and Hanmer Surgery Patients Action Group states ‘that the constant changes in personnel within the Health Board's East Area Team and Primary Care Senior Management has resulted in obfuscation, misinformation and a lack of continuity and information flow on a situation that should have received urgent attention’, and that ‘the real issue is the total lack of communication from the Health Board and the apparent lack of any appreciation of the situation. Promises have been made but never fulfilled’, they say – ‘no information from a meeting on 11th November, no monthly updates, as promised in November. There is just no engagement and absolutely no accountability’. This is an example, and I call for an urgent Statement accordingly, not just on this case but on the wider implications for primary care services in that area.”
In her response, the Trefnydd, Lesley Griffith MS, urged Mr Isherwood to write to Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s new Director of Primary Care, Rachel Page, “to see, on that specific case, if she can bring that to a favourable conclusion”.
Speaking afterwards, Mr Isherwood said:
“Plans for the development of a new Primary Healthcare Centre to replace the current unsuitable and deteriorating premises would enable the Hanmer Practice to deliver 21st Century services to a rural and isolated community, relieving pressure on other GP Practices and Health Board services, generating better health economics. A new premises could provide diabetes screening, Physio, Occupational Therapy, and much more. There is just no space for such services in the current building. As I told the Minister, this has been going on since 2012. The Practice and its patients deserve a resolution.”
ENDS