Government unveils £41m boost, but practices warn pressures remain acute

MORE than £41m in extra funding will go into general practice in Wales this year following a new agreement between the Welsh Government, NHS Wales and GP leaders. Ministers say the deal provides stability at a time of rising demand — but the settlement comes against a backdrop of sustained pressures, recruitment challenges and concerns over patient access.

The package includes a 4% uplift to the General Medical Services (GMS) contract for 2025-26, in line with independent DDRB pay recommendations, and a guaranteed 5.8% recurrent uplift from 2026-27. The Welsh Government says the multi-year commitment will allow practices to plan ahead, modernise systems and strengthen community-based services.

Health Secretary Jeremy Miles said the investment showed an “unwavering commitment” to general practice, adding: “The 4% pay uplift ensures fair recognition for GPs and practice staff who work tirelessly to deliver care for communities across our country. Multi-year funding gives practices the confidence to invest in the transformation primary care needs.”

However, the announcement comes at a time when many Welsh practices continue to report severe workforce pressures, rising demand, and longstanding challenges in recruiting new partners. GP numbers have fallen over the past decade, with some practices handing back contracts or operating list closures because of unsustainable workloads. Patient satisfaction with access has also declined, according to the latest Welsh GP Patient Survey.

What the deal includes

The settlement for 2025-26 comprises £37.9m of new investment and £4m in re-invested capacity funding, with the key elements including:

• A 1.77% uplift in expenses, intended to help practices manage inflationary pressures in energy, staffing and running costs.
• A recurrent £20m stabilisation fund to support practices facing immediate operational pressures and to prepare for wider reform under the incoming Sustainable Farming Scheme model for health.
• An increased partnership premium, aimed at retaining experienced GPs and encouraging new partners into a model that some say has become less attractive due to financial and regulatory risk.
• A full review of the GMS allocation formula — the first in more than 20 years — which determines how funding is distributed between practices. Some rural and deprived communities have long argued the current system does not reflect the complexity of local health needs.

Wider context

General practice remains the foundation of the NHS, accounting for around 90% of patient contacts, yet it receives a proportionally small share of the overall health budget compared with hospital services. Both the Welsh NHS Confederation and GPC Wales have repeatedly warned that without sustained investment, primary care risks being unable to meet increasing demand from ageing populations and rising chronic illness.

The Welsh Government’s own “community-by-design” programme relies on shifting more care closer to home, reducing pressure on emergency departments and supporting earlier intervention. For that to be achieved, GP leaders say investment needs to be matched with workforce expansion, improved digital systems, and clear strategies to retain experienced clinicians.

Working groups will now be set up to examine access standards, diabetes prevention and new service models.

Mr Miles said he was pleased that GPs would be “actively contributing to creating innovative care models that enhance access, improve outcomes and deliver care locally.”

GP representatives broadly welcomed the deal but have stressed that it is only one step in addressing the scale of challenge across primary care.

Group marks December meeting with charity collection and Christmas celebrations

NARBELLES WI rounded off the year with a festive December meeting featuring a bring-and-share buffet, party games and a Secret Santa gift exchange.

Members also used the occasion to support families in need across the county, collecting food items and presenting a £120 cheque to Ann Watling from Pembrokeshire Food Bank. The donation represents the proceeds of the group’s bucket collection during Narberth Civic Week 2024.

A spokesperson for the WI said the group was delighted to finish the year “with fun, friendship and a chance to give something back to the community.”

(Photo: Narbelles WI members presenting the cheque to Ann Watling, Pembrokeshire Food Bank.)

Officers handling one of the force’s most serious road incidents of the year

DYFED-POWYS POLICE has launched a major investigation after a devastating collision on the A489 near the village of Snead left three people dead and another seriously injured.

Emergency services were called at around 4:50pm on Thursday (Dec 11) to reports of a two-car collision between a grey Audi A4 and a red Toyota Yaris on the rural stretch between Churchstoke and Lydham, close to the Shropshire border. A blue tractor with a front attachment was also travelling on the same section of road at the time of the crash.

Police confirmed that two occupants of the Yaris and the driver of the Audi were pronounced dead at the scene. A further passenger from the Yaris was airlifted to hospital with serious injuries. All next of kin have been informed and specialist family liaison officers are offering support.

Rural force faces one of its most challenging incidents this year

The collision is being described internally as one of the most serious road death incidents Dyfed-Powys Police has dealt with in 2025. Covering the largest geographical area of any force in England and Wales, Dyfed-Powys routinely responds to emergencies across long rural corridors, where limited access points and long travel distances can complicate major incident response.

The A489, which links Mid Wales with the Shropshire Marches, is a busy agricultural and commuter route, with narrow sections, fast straights and limited overtaking opportunities. Several serious collisions have been recorded in recent years, and officers say the geography of the road often increases the complexity of managing scenes such as Thursday’s.

Roads Policing teams, collision investigators, fire crews and the Wales Air Ambulance attended, with the road remaining closed for many hours while forensic work took place.

Appeal for witnesses and dash-cam footage

Dyfed-Powys Police is urging anyone who was travelling on the A489 around the time of the collision – particularly those with dash-cam footage – to come forward.

Information can be submitted online via the force website, by calling 101 quoting reference 267 of December 11.

Officers say they are especially keen to trace anyone who may have seen the vehicles involved shortly before the crash.