In questioning the Welsh Government’s Minister for Health and Social Services on steps to improve access to primary care across the constituency, the Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy – Janet Finch-Saunders MS – has urged the devolved Government to “evaluate the training and recruitment costs required to place a mental health professional in every GP surgery.”
The introduction of such a professional is now more pressing than ever, Mrs Finch-Saunders said, given that an analysis undertaken by the Wales Governance Centre revealed that the share of people experiencing severe mental health issues has increased from 11.7% during the period immediately before the pandemic to 28.1%. It is thought that this number could have risen further since the report's initial publication.
Commenting on her contribution outside the Siambr, Janet said:
“I want to see all individuals empowered to access the appropriate mental health support when and where they need it. As Mind Cymru has rightfully cautioned, we cannot become a nation that too often uses antidepressants as a sticking plaster so as to alleviate distress in the short term.
“As my casework mailbag can sadly attest, when it comes to accessing mental health services in North Wales, lasting and trusting relationships have been found wanting, with patients passed between pillar and post due to a high turnover of staff.
“Recent conversations with local GPs have made abundantly clear that having dedicated mental health support within their surgeries would be extremely beneficial at this time of recovery.
“Such a provision ensures that patients will be provided with a balanced mental health discussion which would allow for a review into what support they wanted and what assistance is available, helping to bring an end to the worrying trend of turning only to medication."
ENDS
Photo: Janet Finch-Saunders MS/AS
