The Welsh Assembly Government and Welsh GP representatives have reached agreement on revisions to the contract which covers the services that GP practices provide for patients.
The £16million package includes a new ‘menu’ of enhanced services which Local Health Boards (LHBs) will be able to commission from GP practices.
The menu includes care of patients with diabetes, the homeless, asylum seekers and refugees, and services for care home residents. Decisions on which services will be commissioned will be made according to local need.
The Welsh Assembly Government has asked LHBs to work with GP practices to ensure that daytime opening times meet the reasonable needs of patients in every practice in Wales. The cooperation of GP leaders on this issue was a key factor in delivering this agreement.
In addition, those practices with sufficient capacity will be able to apply for funding to extend their opening hours into the evening and early mornings and at weekends.
The package includes a £4.8m uplift for LHBs in recognition of the increased costs arising from factors like population growth and increased prices of drugs.
Health Minister Edwina Hart said:
I am delighted that the Assembly Government and GPC Wales have been able to reach this agreement. Working with GP leaders on this issue was a key factor in delivering this agreement.
This deal will mean improved access to essential GP services and provision of a wider range of enhanced services.
In particular, LHBs will be able to negotiate with practices so that more surgeries offer more convenient opening hours for all, especially for patients that traditionally find it difficult to attend during normal hours.
Dr David Bailey, Chairman of GPC Wales, said:
The genuine consultation and collaboration between GPC Wales and the Assembly Government means this is a good deal for GPs and patients.
The new menu of services means GPs will be able to use their expertise to provide more specialist care for those patients that require it.
GPC Wales also supports Welsh practices moving as soon as possible to a position where patient access is possible throughout the core hours.
Increasing numbers in Wales are suffering from diabetes and LHBs will be able to commission more specialist services from GPs so that patients can better manage their condition.
Many homeless people, refugees and asylum seekers have greater needs than are met through standard services and LHBs will be able to agree packages to improve access for such groups.
Enhanced services to care home residents could include prevention of unnecessary hospital admissions and also end of life care planning, to ensure that patients are offered greater support and choice over where they die.
This menu of services will evolve over time to reflect priorities. Learning disabilities and mental health enhanced services are already included and future services to be developed could include alcohol, heart failure and specialised sexual health services.