Local AM's concern at cost of out-of-hours service

10.55.17am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 26th Sep 2006

Welsh Liberal Democrat AM for Brecon and Radnorshire, Kirsty Williams, has learnt that GP out-of-hours services in Powys cost the Local Health Board (LHB) over half a million pounds more than expected last year.

Research by the Welsh Liberal Democrats has found the out-of-hours services which were imposed on LHBs in 2004 have cost far more than was budgeted for across Wales, with Powys being hit the hardest.

Ms Williams said: "The new GP out-of-hours arrangements have largely been unpopular and ineffective. We now know that they are also a financial disaster. To re-launch a service so it costs more and delivers a poorer service has got to go down as one of the Labour Government's biggest failings. It is inexcusable that the Government got these figures so badly wrong, and I will be raising this issue with the Auditor General."

Notes:

Under the General Medical Services contract, which allows GPs to opt-out of providing out-of-hours services, responsibility for commissioning these services fell to LHBs.

Powys LHB paid an additional £681,000 in funding for out of hours in 2005/06. Figures for the other LHB's are available on request.