Press Release on the Primary Care fund

£3.5M INVESTMENT BRINGS HEALTH CARE CLOSER TO HOME
A multi-million pound investment by the Welsh Labour Government in local health services across Wales is helping the NHS deliver more care closer to people’s homes and reduce pressure on hospital services, Health and Social Services Minister Mark Drakeford has said.

In November 2014, the Welsh Labour Government created its first £3.5m primary care fund, which included £2m to improve and develop the skills of NHS staff working in the community and GP surgeries. The fund also provided more eye care services in local communities, with £600,000 allocated to each of Wales’ seven health boards to provide additional eye care appointments closer to people’s homes instead of in hospitals.

Mike Hedges AM said ….. ‘ I welcome this update on the Primary Care Fund; Primary care is of vital importance and it is good to see the Wales Labour Government developing these new services’

Projects include:

• In Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board, a partnership has been established with the merger of three smaller practices in the Swansea and Amman valley area to create the first stage of a multi-disciplinary primary care workforce system, with a telephone triage service, resulting in an increase in patient consultations with a nurse practitioner, pharmacist, or advanced paramedic, freeing GP time and reducing missed appointments.
• In Cwm Taf University Health Board, five salaried GPs have been appointed, and placements secured, to support and a further two will be appointed shortly.
• up a new service for south Powys and another will complete specialist palliative care training. Two children’s phlebotomy services have been set up in Brecon and Newtown, led by a qualified nurse and run by healthcare support workers and supported by a play therapist.
• Cardiff and the Vale University Health Board has employed community optometrists to work in its eye casualty. This has improved the skills of primary care practitioners and strengthened joint working between primary and secondary care.

This year, the Welsh Government has been able to increase the size of the primary care fund to £40m, investing in community-based services and the primary care workforce to deliver more high-quality care closer to people’s homes and prevent the need for people to travel to hospital for their care.