Latest figures show further steady progress on increasing access to GPs for working people in Wales, Health Minister Mark Drakeford said today (Tuesday 25 February).
One of the Welsh Government’s key commitments in its Programme for Government is to make GP services more accessible to working people.
Statistics published today show that between 2011 and 2013,
- 76% of practices are now open for either the full daily core hours (08:00 to 18:30 Monday to Friday) or within one hour of the full daily core hours, which represents an increase of 16 percentage points between 2011 and 2013.
- 95% of practices now offer appointments at any time between 5pm and 6.30pm at least two days a week, with 76% of practices offering appointments at any time between 5pm and 6.30pm every week day, which represents an increase of 14 percentage points between 2011 and 2013.
- The percentage of practices closed for half a day on one week day has fallen from 19% in 2011 to 6% in 2013.
Mark Drakeford said:
“Making it easier for working people to get an appointment at a time convenient to them is something we set out as a key commitment of this government.
“Figures released today show we are continuing to deliver on this commitment. It is clear that GPs across Wales are working very hard to take steps to extend opening hours beyond 5pm and to avoid closing for half a day a week, making more appointments available to everyone.
“But further improvements can be made. In particular, where there is an assessed need for working people to see a GP during office hours, we are working with the General Practitioners Committee Wales – the group that represents GPs in Wales – to create new ways in which access can be improved.”
The statistics are available here: http://wales.gov.uk/statistics-and-research/gp-access-wales/?lang=en
