Working with Welsh Parliament - Senedd Cymru

BMA Cymru Wales ensures doctors' voices are heard by policymakers at the heart of Welsh Government and politicians across the Senedd. Read our manifesto and find out more about our priorities.

Location: Wales
Audience: All doctors Patients and public
Updated: Monday 15 September 2025
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BMA Cymru Wales works to influence Welsh legislation:

  • we seek members' views to help us respond to consultations and inquiries by Welsh Government, Senedd committees and other organisations
  • we regularly engage with individual MSs (Members of the Senedd), Senedd committees and cross party groups
  • our policy work and collective voice of our members inform the work of MSs and Senedd debates 
  • our representatives give evidence to Senedd committees and cross party groups to further influence policy.

‘Health in our hands’ – Senedd 2026 election manifesto sets out our priorities for the next Welsh Government 

As Wales approaches a pivotal moment for its future, our national health service stands at a critical crossroads. The pressures it faces are undeniable, felt by patients in every community and by the medical professionals dedicated to their care. As the leading voice for doctors in Wales, BMA Cymru Wales believes that a healthier future is possible. That’s why we are putting forward a clear, actionable vision to restore our NHS.  

Diagnosing the challenge  

Our diagnosis is clear. The visible symptoms – record waiting lists, corridors becoming default wards and GP surgeries closing their doors – point to a system under unsustainable strain. This pressure begins at its very foundation: general practice. When GPs are under-resourced, patients struggle for timely access, leading to delayed care and a cascade of pressure onto our already overstretched hospitals. Underpinning this is a rising tide of chronic disease and persistent health inequalities, and without a serious prevention agenda, demand on the NHS will only intensify. At the heart of this is a workforce crisis. Doctors are leaving the service, exhausted from being asked to do more with less. Critically, we are failing to retain the next generation of medical professionals, with poor conditions and a lack of quality training opportunities forcing highly skilled doctors in Wales to seek opportunities elsewhere, simply to advance their careers and to protect their wellbeing. Our plan for action The decline of our NHS is not inevitable.  

Our manifesto for the Senedd 2026 election ‘Health in our hands’, outlines the decisive action required. It is a comprehensive plan built on core principles:  

  • Rescuing general practice from the brink,
  • truly valuing and retaining our doctors,
  • making patient safety non-negotiable,
  • prioritising a prevention-led approach and
  • creating clear pathways for doctors to train and stay in Wales.  

These are the foundations for a safe, effective and sustainable NHS. The people of Wales cannot wait and their doctors are ready to lead the way towards a healthier future for all. These are not just the demands of doctors – these are the foundations of a safe, effective and sustainable NHS. We are ready to work with the next Welsh Government to make this a reality. Patients need doctors. Doctors need change. 

Read our Senedd 2026 election manifesto 

(Cymraeg) Download our manifesto 

(English) Download our manifesto