Randerson Perplexed by cuts in GP Funding

11.49.50am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 5th Apr 2007

Following on from Jenny Randerson's GP survey, which found that far from services increasing after the new GP contract they were, in fact, decreasing, The Labour Assembly Government last week withdrew £6.2 million earmarked for enhanced GP services

Welsh Lib Dem Health spokesperson Jenny Randerson AM, said: "Whilst the money could still end up back with doctors the fear is that it will be used elsewhere to offset debt.

"The Welsh Liberal Democrat vision is for GP practices to expand the range of services they offer, for example by allowing minor surgery and counselling to operate alongside normal services. This cut will certainly not help keep people out of hospital

"Many GPs who responded to my survey cited the difficulty of obtaining funding for modernisation and expansion of premises as a major obstacle. WAG funding for premises modernisation was inadequate and difficult to access even before this latest cut in funding.

"Labour's attitude to the NHS is like that of a kitten to toys: constantly distracted by the next thing brought to its attention, forgetting instantly the thing that distracted it previously. Labour should instead be seeing the big picture."

Notes:

A report of Jenny Randerson's GP survey can be found in the 'What we believe' (Health and Social Care) section of www.welshlibdems.org.uk