A fresh examination of the outlook for general practice has received a positive response.

The document was released by the Senedd’s Health and Social Care Committee and has received backing from the British Medical Association, which described it as a significant development for its Save Our Surgeries initiative.

Dr Gareth Oelmann, who leads the BMA’s Welsh GPs committee, commented that the organisation embraces the conclusions and suggestions put forward by this investigation, which was set up following the launch of the Save Our Surgeries campaign demanding swift measures to safeguard the continuation and viability of general practice.

During the investigation, the committee heard testimony from doctors working in surgeries throughout Wales, illustrating how reductions in funding over several years have produced harmful effects, including the shutdown of practices, uncertainty around recruiting new staff, and an exhausted workforce that further complicates patients’ ability to obtain treatment.

Dr Oelmann observed that the document reflected openness to hearing from and cooperating with GPs and called on the upcoming Welsh administration to give its proposals urgent attention.

He stated that providing patients with care that is both prompt and suitable represents an aim held in common, and the association anticipates establishing a cooperative relationship with the new Welsh Government.