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Deal to offer extra GP services Deal to offer extra GP services
(about 9 hours later)
GPs' surgeries in Wales will be able to open in the evening and at weekends in return for extra funding, under a £16m agreement with the assembly government.GPs' surgeries in Wales will be able to open in the evening and at weekends in return for extra funding, under a £16m agreement with the assembly government.
But practices will not be forced to open later, and could offer other additional services instead.But practices will not be forced to open later, and could offer other additional services instead.
The Health Minister Edwina Hart said the deal would "mean improved access to essential GP services and provision of a wider range of enhanced services". Health Minister Edwina Hart said the deal would "mean improved access to essential GP services and provision of a wider range of enhanced services".
Other options include services for refugees and people with diabetes. Community health councils said details of the contract were still not clear.
Other options in the deal include services for refugees and people with diabetes.
The agreement is the result of months of negotiations between the assembly government and the British Medical Association's GP Committee Wales (GPC Wales).The agreement is the result of months of negotiations between the assembly government and the British Medical Association's GP Committee Wales (GPC Wales).
The new menu of services means GPs will be able to use their expertise to provide more specialist care for those patients that require it Dr David Bailey, chairman of GP Committee
Under the contract, local health boards (LHBs) will be able to commission GPs' practices to provide extra services from a "menu" of choices.Under the contract, local health boards (LHBs) will be able to commission GPs' practices to provide extra services from a "menu" of choices.
Specialist services
But surgeries will not have to offer extended opening hours in order to receive additional funding.But surgeries will not have to offer extended opening hours in order to receive additional funding.
A deal struck in February in England meant doctors there must open for an extra three hours a week to benefit from extra cash.A deal struck in February in England meant doctors there must open for an extra three hours a week to benefit from extra cash.
The assembly government said the additional services on the menu would be changed to reflect future priorities, such as alcohol, heart and sexual health care.The assembly government said the additional services on the menu would be changed to reflect future priorities, such as alcohol, heart and sexual health care.
Ms Hart said: "I am delighted that the assembly government and GPC Wales have been able to reach this agreement. Working with GP leaders on this issue was a key factor in delivering this agreement.Ms Hart said: "I am delighted that the assembly government and GPC Wales have been able to reach this agreement. Working with GP leaders on this issue was a key factor in delivering this agreement.
Timescales
"In particular, LHBs will be able to negotiate with practices so that more surgeries offer more convenient opening hours for all, especially for patients that traditionally find it difficult to attend during normal hours," she said."In particular, LHBs will be able to negotiate with practices so that more surgeries offer more convenient opening hours for all, especially for patients that traditionally find it difficult to attend during normal hours," she said.
The new menu of services means GPs will be able to use their expertise to provide more specialist care for those patients that require it Dr David Bailey, chairman of GP Committee
Most practices are expected to stay open between 0800 BST and 1830 BST but LHBs will be able to commission those surgeries with sufficient capacity to open at the weekend.Most practices are expected to stay open between 0800 BST and 1830 BST but LHBs will be able to commission those surgeries with sufficient capacity to open at the weekend.
Carol Jones, director of the Board of Community Health Councils in Wales, said the arrangement left questions outstanding.
He said: "There's no mention currently of timescales with regard to this. Is this going to happen in the next financial year, is it immediate?
"It's a little bit woolly at the moment.
'Expertise'
"And certainly I'd like to see that GPs are possibly, not made to, but are asked to, ensure there are extended times to practices."
Dr David Bailey, the chairman of the GPC Wales said the consultation and collaboration between doctors and the assembly government meant it was a "good deal" for patients.Dr David Bailey, the chairman of the GPC Wales said the consultation and collaboration between doctors and the assembly government meant it was a "good deal" for patients.
"In my opinion they'll actually be getting a better service in Wales [than in England] because the Welsh government has been much more reasonable in trying to deliver a service which is as close as possible to what we deliver in the normal working day," he said."In my opinion they'll actually be getting a better service in Wales [than in England] because the Welsh government has been much more reasonable in trying to deliver a service which is as close as possible to what we deliver in the normal working day," he said.
"The new menu of services means GPs will be able to use their expertise to provide more specialist care for those patients that require it.""The new menu of services means GPs will be able to use their expertise to provide more specialist care for those patients that require it."
The plan will also give LHBs the power to vary contracts when they believe the "reasonable needs" of patients are not being met by surgeries.The plan will also give LHBs the power to vary contracts when they believe the "reasonable needs" of patients are not being met by surgeries.