News

GP shortage in Wales: Patients per doctor double European average

Published

1 year ago

February 13, 2025

THE NUMBER of patients per GP in Wales is over twice the European average, raising concerns about primary care availability for hundreds of thousands of patients across the country.

In 2024, a report by BMA Cymru Wales showed that the European average for patients per GP was around 1,000. In Wales, the average is 2,210 patients per full-time GP. Over the last decade, the average number of patients per practice has increased by just under 25%.

RURAL ISSUES

Over the past decade, the number of GP practices in Wales has decreased by 18%, dropping from 470 to 378. This decline is due to a combination of closures and mergers, reflecting broader challenges in general practice, such as workforce shortages and increasing patient demand.

The situation is worsened by the fact that around 80% of Wales’s land area is relatively sparsely populated, consisting of small settlements grouped around former market towns. New GPs are overwhelmingly concentrated in Wales’s few larger urban centres, chiefly along the M4 corridor and the North East Wales border area.

This means rural patients often have to travel significantly longer distances to access GP services compared to urban residents. The closure of rural practices forces patients to register with larger, more distant surgeries, increasing the patient-to-GP ratio. This results in longer waiting times and reduced appointment availability.

Long travel times and a lack of transport deter individuals from seeking timely care, leading to delays in diagnosis and treatment. By the time patients present for clinical care, their conditions may have worsened, making treatment more expensive and reducing the likelihood of positive clinical outcomes.

And that is before patients are placed on one of the NHS’s lengthy waiting lists for diagnosis and treatment.

The older age profile of Wales’s rural GPs was long recognised as a ticking time bomb under primary care. Yet, efforts to stem the outflow of GPs from rural Wales have been patchy and ineffective. Changes to pension rules have accelerated retirements, and as older rural GPs leave the profession, replacing them has become increasingly difficult.

The reasons are clear. Rural Wales faces huge difficulties attracting and retaining GPs due to professional isolation, fewer career development opportunities, and a lack of interest in rural practice partnerships. These factors have led to a reliance on locum doctors or salaried GPs, which in turn can disrupt continuity of care.

IN PEMBROKESHIRE

Practice closures and the shortage of GPs have hit Pembrokeshire hard.

The Argyle Medical Group in Pembroke Dock is the second-largest GP practice in Wales, with around 25,000 patients registered and just nine GPs—an average of 2,800 patients per GP. In 2021, the practice had 10.75 full-time equivalent GPs and was seeking to recruit more. However, due to a lack of available GPs, the practice was forced to withdraw from its Neyland practice at St Clement’s Surgery and reduce hours at St Oswald’s Surgery in Pembroke.

**Argyle Medical in Pembroke Dock has the second-largest GP practice in Wales**

As a knock-on effect of the Neyland closure, patients were transferred to the Neyland and Johnston Medical Practice, which eventually handed back its GP contract following retirements and recruitment difficulties. Its patients are now serviced by salaried and locum GPs employed by the Health Board.

The same issues have plagued GP practices from Tenby in Pembrokeshire’s southeast to St Davids in the northwest. While it would be a stretch to say that “GP deserts” exist in the same way as “NHS dental deserts,” the increasing patient load on hospitals suggests that many people are now seeking treatment at A&E for conditions that would previously have been managed by a GP.

The Welsh Government’s approach is to ask patients to self-triage before going to hospital—an impractical and, for many, heartless solution. If you are a parent with a child in agony and unable to tell you what is wrong, what would you do?

SITUATION NORMAL, SITUATION CRITICAL

In 2018, the Welsh Government announced a plan to recruit 1,000 GPs into NHS general practice in Wales. While the number of GPs has increased, it has not risen by anything close to 1,000. Worse still, the number of full-time GPs has actually fallen.

What this means is that while there are technically more GPs in total, there are fewer available in practice because many of the new recruits work part-time, as locums, or on limited contracts (for example, as doctors on call).

It’s the same statistical sleight of hand used to describe frontline clinical staff in the Welsh NHS. Welsh Government ministers proudly claim that the Welsh NHS employs more people than ever, yet the number of full-time staff has plummeted.

In an attempt to address the GP shortage, the Welsh Government has increased the number of routine clinical assessments and treatments that pharmacists and practice nurses can undertake. However, only seven relatively minor ailments can be treated by pharmacists independently, while practice nurses must have GP approval to prescribe medication.

Expanding community-based healthcare is a sensible aim, but it is undermined by the critical shortage of full-time GPs in rural Wales. There are not enough independent prescribing pharmacists or community nurses to fill the gap. The reliance on locum GPs disrupts continuity of care, leading to situations where patients are taken off long-term medication without explanation or, worse, experiencing increased risks of missed or misdiagnosed conditions.

Wales has reached a tipping point.

Politicians frequently offer warm words about “our NHS,” “our precious NHS,” and “our wonderful NHS nurses and doctors,” but none have publicly acknowledged that the foundation of NHS care—GP surgeries as the first point of contact for the sick—has buckled. If they did, they would have to come up with real solutions instead of blaming patients for being ill or making vague promises about digital medicine transforming rural healthcare.

The situation is critical.

In Wales, that passes for normal..

Local Government

Milford Haven civic service marks start of mayoral year

Published

4 hours ago

June 21, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Mayor’s charities named as civic leaders gather at St Katharine and St Peter’s Church

THE CIVIC SERVICE of the Mayor of Milford Haven, Cllr Mark Woodward, took place at St Katharine and St Peter’s Church on Saturday (June 20).

The service marked Cllr Woodward’s election as Mayor and First Citizen of Milford Haven.

It was conducted by Rev Dr Adrian Furse and Canon John Cecil, with music from church organist Richard Stephens, Gelliswick Community Choir and Milford Haven Town Band.

Guides and Brownies, Milford Haven Sea Cadets and Royal Marines Cadets were also among those taking part, with councillors Colin Sharp and Yvonne Southwell acting as ushers.

Refreshments followed at Milford Haven Bowling Club.

Local MS Paul Davies was among those attending the service and wished the new mayor all the best for his term in office.

Cllr Woodward’s chosen charities for the year are Patch Charity and Greenacres Rescue.

Photo caption:

Civic guests attended the Mayor of Milford Haven’s service at St Katharine and St Peter’s Church on Saturday (Pic: Supplied)

Charity

Toy Story fans fill charity toy box at Haverfordwest cinema

Published

14 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Donations pour in for SNAP Specialist Play as families embrace Toy Story 5 launch

A TOY STORY-themed charity appeal at a Haverfordwest cinema has got off to a flying start, with families donating toys to support children with additional needs across Pembrokeshire.

The Palace Cinema has teamed up with local charity SNAP Specialist Play to collect new and pre-loved toys during screenings of the newly released Toy Story 5.

The appeal centres around an “Andy’s Toys” donation box, inspired by the beloved Pixar films, which has already been filled by generous filmgoers.

***Toy Story magic: The Palace Cinema foyer has been transformed with themed decorations to celebrate the film’s release***

Cinema manager Hannah Cramp said the response from the community had exceeded expectations.

Families attending opening screenings have arrived carrying bags of toys, with many children keen to share their own treasured items to help others.

The cinema has transformed its foyer into a colourful Toy Story-themed experience, complete with hand-painted decorations, character silhouettes, bunting and famous film slogans including “Reach for the Sky” and “To Infinity and Beyond”.

Many visitors have also embraced the spirit of the occasion by attending in costume as their favourite Toy Story characters.

***Specialist support: SNAP’s sensory facilities help children with additional needs learn and develop through play***

The toys are being donated to SNAP Specialist Play, a charity based within the Child Health Department at Withybush Hospital.

SNAP supports pre-school children with additional and complex needs through specialist play sessions designed to encourage communication, physical development and sensory learning.

Its facilities include sensory rooms, therapeutic play spaces and bespoke equipment used by speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists.

Project manager Cindy Jenkins said the charity was delighted by the partnership and grateful for the generosity shown by local families.

She said every toy donated would be put to good use, either during specialist play sessions, at family events, or through seasonal initiatives such as Christmas gift boxes for children and their siblings.

The appeal will continue until mid-July, with organisers hopeful that even more donations will be received over the coming weeks.

Anyone attending Toy Story 5 at the Palace Cinema is invited to bring along a new or good-quality pre-loved toy to support the appeal.

Cover photo:

Fancy dress fun: Palace Cinema manager Hannah Cramp helping launch the Toy Story charity appeal.

Health

Medicine shortages now ‘most severe on record’, health leaders warn

Published

14 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

PATIENTS are facing some of the worst medicine shortages ever seen in the UK, with pharmacists warning the situation now poses a serious risk to safety.

The National Pharmacy Association said shortages affecting commonly used medicines are becoming more frequent, lasting longer, and causing increasing disruption for patients, GP surgeries and pharmacies.

The warning comes as Serious Shortage Protocols for Creon, used by people with pancreatic cancer and cystic fibrosis to help digest food, have been in place since May 2024 and have now been extended until July 10, 2026.

HRT treatment Estradot has also been under a Serious Shortage Protocol since December 2024, with the current extension also running until July 10.

Patients travelling between pharmacies

A survey by the National Pharmacy Association found that 98 per cent of pharmacies had encountered patients who had visited several pharmacies in one day to find a prescription.

It also found that 96 per cent of pharmacies believed the current situation posed a serious risk to patient safety, while 89 per cent said they had been unable to dispense a medicine at least once a day because of supply problems.

Some pharmacy teams have also faced anger and abuse from patients unable to obtain medication.

Olivier Picard, Chair of the National Pharmacy Association, said: “Medicine shortages are becoming more frequent, lasting longer and causing increasing disruption for patients.

“These shortages are some of most severe the UK has experienced.

“It is deeply distressing to find patients who have travelled from pharmacy to pharmacy to find the medicines they need without success.”

Calls for urgent taskforce

The NPA is calling on the government to convene an emergency taskforce involving manufacturers, wholesalers, clinicians and pharmacists.

It also wants changes to rules which currently stop pharmacists from making simple substitutions, such as changing a tablet to a capsule or a cream to an ointment, even where a safe alternative is available.

Professor Victoria Tzortziou Brown, President of the Royal College of GPs, said medicine shortages were frustrating for patients, GPs and pharmacists, and added pressure to already stretched services.

She said the College supported pharmacists being able to make limited changes to prescriptions where a medicine is unavailable and a safe alternative exists.

She added: “The most important thing is that patients are able to access the medication they need safely and without delay.”

The Cystic Fibrosis Trust and Pancreatic Cancer UK have also raised concerns about the impact of shortages of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy, including Creon, on people who rely on the medication to digest food, maintain weight and stay well enough for treatment.