The Welsh Government has pledged £43 million over the next year to improve primary care services, including £10 million for the country’s 64 primary care clusters.
The £10 million will enable groups of GPs to work with other healthcare professionals – including pharmacists, dentists, therapists and nurses – to develop services closer to home and free up time for GPs to care for people with more complex needs, said health and social services minister Professor Mark Drakeford.
About £26 million of the new funding will go to health boards to implement local plans.
Aneurin Bevan and Cwm Taf university health boards will receive £720,000 a year to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Professor Drakeford said: ‘Our vision for primary care is for more services to be delivered in local communities, closer to people’s homes, with care being delivered by a range of skilled healthcare professionals working together as a team.
’I am particularly pleased to be able to announce the £10 million – an extra £4 million this year – which will be allocated directly to Wales’ 64 primary care clusters, to support their development and boost local primary care services.’
The Welsh Government has already announced GP practices in Wales will be getting a 2.2% funding uplift from April, which it said translated to a 1% pay increase.
Read Pulse’s interview with Professor Mark Drakeford
