Health

Paul Davies calls for urgent action over eye care waiting lists

Published

1 year ago

November 20, 2023

SENEDD Member Paul Davies has called for urgent action over alarming statistics which show that less than half of patients waiting for eye care treatment have actually been seen within the target date or within 25% beyond their target date for an outpatient appointment. The latest statistics from the Welsh Government show that only 46.6% of patients in the Hywel Dda University Health Board area have been assessed, despite those patients being at risk of irreversible harm.

Mr Davies said, “It’s very worrying to read that less than half of all patients with an urgent eye problem are being seen in an appropriate time. These patients are often living in discomfort and pain and the longer they wait for treatment, the more they risk irreversible harm or blindness.”

“These statistics should be a wake up call for Hywel Dda University Health Board who must prioritise this as a matter or urgency. It is not acceptable for patients to be waiting this long for treatment and action must be taken immediately before it’s too late. Efforts must be redoubled to recruit ophthalmologists and the Welsh Government need to do more to support the Health Board to improve access to services and ensure the Health Board has the staff and resources required to bring down these waiting lists.”

Health

GPs accept revised contract offer from the Welsh Government

Published

25 mins ago

January 31, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THE BMA’s Welsh GP committee has voted to accept the revised 24/25 GMS (General Medical Services) contract offer proposed by the Welsh Government after 99% of GPs in Wales voted overwhelmingly to reject the original offer in December

The committee was presented with a significantly improved offer from the Welsh Government in January, marking a positive turn in the contract negotiations. This was a direct response to the overwhelming contract referendum result, which saw a record number of GPs in Wales join the BMA.

The revised offer, which includes an additional but non-recurrent £23 million practice stabilisation payment, now brings the total additional investment for the 24/25 financial year to £52.1 million. This will help GPs deliver vital services to their communities, providing greater stability to practices, patients and staff.

The revised offer ensures fair remuneration for all practice staff, including GP partners and salaried GPs. It realises the DDRB (doctors and dentists pay review body) recommendation of a 6% pay uplift.

Dr Gareth Oelmann, chair of the BMA’s Welsh GP committee, stated: “As a committee, we voted unanimously to accept the Welsh Government’s revised offer on the basis that this significant uplift will provide GPs with greater stability in the immediate term given the challenging circumstances practices find themselves in.

“We are pleased that the Welsh Government swiftly grasped the strength of feeling amongst the profession and took decisive action by providing a credible offer which we hope will provide GPs with much-needed resources to deliver vital care to patients.

“We acknowledge that this settlement does not resolve every issue, and we have reservations about non-recurrent funding given the awareness of upcoming unavoidable costs from the start of the financial year. Nevertheless, it provides a solid foundation we can build upon in the next round of negotiations for the 25/26 contract; we have assurances from the Welsh Government that this will take place as early as possible.

“Thank you to everyone who voted in the contract referendum and for sharing your experiences. Our collective resolve has delivered a fairer deal for general practice, and we will continue to use this mandate to improve GP services for everyone across Wales.”

Health

Kurtz: Welsh Government risks deepening NHS Dental crisis

Published

1 hour ago

January 31, 2025

Tom Sinclair

LOCAL MS Samuel Kurtz has warned that the Welsh Government’s latest approach to NHS dentistry could worsen access to vital dental care, leaving millions in Wales struggling to secure treatment.

More than 1.5 million people in Wales are currently unable to register with an NHS dentist, with many facing years-long waits for treatment. Kurtz, MS for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, said the crisis was one of the most pressing concerns raised by his constituents.

‘The system is failing’

“The system is failing,” Kurtz said. “Patients are left in pain, dentists are overwhelmed, and public trust in NHS dentistry is eroding—all while the Welsh Labour Government sits back and watches this crisis unfold.”

At the heart of the issue is the government’s offer of a 6% funding increase, tied to a mandatory reform programme that has drawn fierce criticism from dental professionals. The British Dental Association (BDA) has warned that the conditions attached could drive even more dentists out of the NHS, deepening the crisis.

Kurtz called for urgent intervention, saying: “With more dentists handing back NHS contracts, it’s clear the system isn’t working. This latest move risks delivering the final blow to NHS dentistry in Wales.”

He urged the government to rethink its approach, adding: “The Welsh Government must work with, not against, dentists to deliver meaningful reform, tackle patient backlogs, and ensure access to dental care improves—not deteriorates further.”

‘A spectacular display of bad faith’

Welsh General Dental Practice Chair Russell Gidney also condemned the government’s approach.

“This is a spectacular display of bad faith from the Welsh Government,” he said. “The sole authors of record-breaking delays on pay are based in Cardiff Bay. For the first time, ministers have sought to tie the hands of demoralised dentists.”

He criticised the decision to make pay rises conditional on signing up for changes that could undermine the service.

“This forces colleagues to sign up to a deal that fails to keep pace with soaring costs,” he added. “It should come as little surprise to the Welsh Government that no health professional is going to roll over and welcome a pay cut.”

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Health

Hywel Dda Health Board announces Community Vaccination Centres

Published

3 days ago

January 28, 2025

Tom Sinclair

HYWEL Dda University Health Board is organizing pop-up community vaccine centres to make it easier for eligible individuals to access their flu and COVID-19 vaccines.

To check your eligibility for the flu and/or COVID-19 vaccine: