Out-of-hours GP issues being 'confronted', says minister

Deciding the future structure of out-of-hours services is a challenge 'across the UK', Vaughan Gething says

Staff shortages and management problems in the north Wales out-of-hours GP service are being "confronted", the deputy health minister has told AMs.

A report leaked to BBC Wales says 84% of staff responding to a survey felt the service was "not safe" at times.

Vaughan Gething said Betsi Cadwaladr health board was tackling understaffing and problems with "managerial culture".

The Conservatives said ministers had done nothing to address problems that were putting patients lives at risk.

Answering an urgent question from Conservative Shadow Health Minister Darren Millar, Mr Gething said an action plan was being developed by the health board, which would set out how it would deal with "longer-term issues".

These included how out-of-hours services generally should be run in the future, he added.

Mr Gething said it was important the board's plans were published so "people can have confidence in the steps that are now being taken to address the challenges that have quite rightly been identified".

But Mr Millar said it was clear Welsh ministers knew about "failures" at the out-of-hours service but did "absolutely nothing to address them".

He said it was "yet another example" of the health board and ministers letting people in north Wales down and "putting patients lives at risk".