About the campaign
General practice is the front door to healthcare in Wales. It delivers millions of patient contacts every year and helps people stay well, independent and out of hospital where possible.
Since BMA Cymru Wales launched Save Our Surgeries in 2023, the pressures facing general practice have received increased public and political attention. More than 21,600 people signed our Senedd petition, the Senedd Health and Social Care Committee held an inquiry into the future of general practice, and Welsh Government has committed to increasing investment in primary care.
Despite this progress, the pressure on practices remains severe. Our latest evidence shows workload is still unsustainably high, practices continue to face workforce and financial pressures, and many GPs are not confident that general practice currently has the capacity to deliver more care closer to home.
We continue to call for sustained investment, workforce growth, and support for safe and sustainable general practice so patients can access care close to home.
Save Our Surgeries to save the NHS.
English language version
Welsh language version
Key calls
- Restore investment in general practice by increasing the proportion of NHS Wales funding spent on General Medical Services.
- Develop and support a sustainable GP workforce through recruitment, retention and training.
- Introduce national standards for safe working and manageable workloads.
- Support and strengthen the GP partnership model while reducing unnecessary risk and bureaucracy.
- Ensure reform programmes, including Community by Design, are matched with sufficient investment and capacity.
- Improve support for GP wellbeing and safe working conditions across Wales.
- Reform funding and support arrangements for dispensing practices.
Note: Community by Design is Welsh Government’s programme to redesign community-based health and care services, with more support intended to be delivered closer to people’s homes. For general practice, this means any shift of care needs to be properly funded, clearly planned and backed by enough workforce capacity.
The data
- The number of patients registered with GP practices in Wales has increased from 3.17 million to 3.32 million, an increase of 148,000 patients or 4.7%.
- The number of GP practices has fallen from 474 to 368, a reduction of 106 surgeries.
- The number of full-time equivalent GPs has fallen by 19.5%, from 1,845.8 to 1,485.9.
- Consultant numbers have increased by 44.7% over the same period.
- The number of patients per full-time equivalent GP has increased by 30%, from 1,719 to 2,235.
- General Medical Services now accounts for 6% of the NHS Wales budget, compared with 8.7% in 2005/06.
Timeline
- 2023: Save our surgeries launched.
- 2023/24: More than 21,600 people signed the public petition.
- 2024: In a GP contract referendum, 99% of respondents rejected the original contract offer.
- 2025: A new GP contract settlement was reached.
- 2026: The Senedd inquiry report was published, and Welsh Government committed to increasing investment in primary care.
Our findings
Our survey
Workload remains at unsafe levels
GPs rated their workload at 76 out of 100, broadly unchanged since 2023. This shows sustained pressure rather than improvement. Only 8% describe their workload as manageable.
Workload is affecting wellbeing and patient care
- 70% of GPs report that workload routinely or constantly affects their wellbeing.
- 63% report that workload routinely or constantly affects patient care.
Capacity remains under pressure
Nearly 86% of practices report capacity problems at least some of the time, and only 1% say they have enough capacity to absorb additional work.
Financial pressures are forcing practices to make difficult decisions
- 62% increased personal workload.
- 43% introduced recruitment freezes.
- 31% deferred investment.
- 23% reduced services.
Confidence in system transformation is low
- 81% lack confidence that transformation funding will be accessible or sufficient.
- 85% do not believe general practice currently has the capacity to deliver more care closer to home.
- 89% are unclear what Community by Design means for their practice.
Key achievements since launch
- More than 21,600 people signed our Senedd petition.
- The Senedd Health and Social Care Committee held an inquiry into the future of general practice.
- GP contract improvements were secured following the 2024 referendum.
- Welsh Government committed to increasing investment in primary care.
