SAM ROWLANDS, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, says it is a scandal that all monies received from the UK Government for the NHS is not passed on to the service in Wales.
Mr Rowlands, Shadow Health Minister, was commenting on an FOI response from the NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership, which showed that only one small primary care premises has been built in Wales in the last 10 years.
He said: “That lack of investment is quite troubling, certainly given the disproportionate impact that smaller surgeries can have when they’re built in a rural community.
“It’s also troubling that 99 GP surgeries across Wales have closed in recent years, which creates a further barrier for those rural communities.
“One example that comes up in my region is that of Hanmer surgery, which has been recently covered in a Channel 4 television programme, highlighting the quality of care that people receive there, but also highlighting that the premises is not fit for purpose and that investment is required. Local people are frustrated at the pace of progress, which is painful.
Only last week Mr Rowlands vowed to keep fighting to save GP surgeries in Wales during a Welsh Conservative debate: GP practices and funding.
He said: “Labour Senedd Members have rejected our calls to improve GP access by adopting BMA Cymru Wales’ key campaign calls and ensuring that every penny arising from the UK Government’s health spending is made available for our Welsh NHS.
“The Welsh Conservatives will not give up and will keep fighting to save our GP surgeries.”
