HYWEL Dda Health Board overspent by £1.1 million in the last financial year to operate three directly managed GP practices, including the one in Goodwick, which ended the last financial year with a £300,532 deficit.

Figures obtained by the British Medical Association (BMA) Cymru Wales were released at a briefing session for Assembly Members last Wednesday, October 10. They show that managed practices in Hywel Dda relied heavily on locum sessional GPs and salaried GPs.

The report shows that the number of managed practices in the health board increased from two in 2016/17 to three in 2017/18. Among these was Goodwick surgery and two other practices in Carmarthenshire.

"Hywel Dda saw a substantial increase in its expenditure for directly managed practices," reads the report. "In 2016/17 the expenditure was £2.1 million, which increased to £3.2 million in 2017/18.

"This is a significant increase in overspend from £101,314 in 2016/17 to £1.1 million in 2017/18."

It says that in 2016/17 Goodwick surgery had a surplus of £11,339. However it ended the next financial year with a deficit of £300,532.

The health board attributed the increase in overspend to the increased usage of locum GPs; Goodwick surgery was entirely reliant on locum GPs from December 2016; engaging 14 in 2016/17 and 12 in 2017/18.

Commenting on the findings, Dr Charlotte Jones, chair of the BMA's Welsh general practitioners' committee said:

"These figures confirm what we have been saying for some time. The cost of operating directly managed practices is not sustainable.

"BMA Cymru Wales has always been clear that the most cost-effective way of providing primary care services is via the independent contractor model providing GMS (General Medical Services) services.

"It is better for patients, providing them with the continuity of care they deserve and provides better value-for-money to health boards and ultimately the taxpayer.

"We know that Health Boards are actively seeking to return practices to GMS status and this is something we welcome. However, we cannot overlook the fact that there are still practices in Wales who are at risk and are considering or have handed back their contract. More needs to be done so that these practices receive the support they need to remain in GMS status."

"We will continue to encourage health boards to support practices, all of whom are facing challenging times across Wales. This would include addressing last person standing issues through active intervention on premises by taking over or guaranteeing leases, as well as addressing additional challenges and pressures to make partnership an attractive option for GPs now and in the future."