Our response to the Senedd Future of General Practice report

We welcome the publication of the Senedd’s report into the future of general practice in Wales. Several of the Committee’s key recommendations directly reflect the evidence and lived experience shared by occupational therapists working in primary care. 

We submitted detailed written evidence to the inquiry in March 2025 and occupational therapist Kim Willis, one of our members, provided verbal evidence to the Health and Social Care Committee. Occupational therapists described the challenges and opportunities facing general practice in Wales, including the need for sustainable funding, improved multidisciplinary team  working, better access to digital systems and suitable estates to accommodate modern primary care teams. 

Today’s report includes two major recommendations that strongly align our calls for long‑term investment and system‑wide change: 

1. A national strategy to embed effective multidisciplinary team working across primary care 

The Committee recommends that the incoming Welsh Government develop a national, standardised approach to multidisciplinary team working, supported by sustainable funding, clear referral pathways and investment in digital and physical infrastructure. 

We welcome this recommendation as recognition of the vital role occupational therapists already play in supporting GPs, improving patient flow, reducing pressure on secondary care, and enabling earlier intervention. A national strategy would help eliminate the postcode variation we highlighted in our evidence and ensure that every primary care cluster in Wales can access occupational therapy expertise. 

2. A comprehensive review of the general practice estate 

We also welcome the call for a Wales‑wide review of GP estates, recognising the need for purpose‑built, fit‑for‑future environments that can support multidisciplinary team working, rehabilitation, prevention and group‑based interventions. 

In our evidence, occupational therapists described how a lack of space in GP surgeries frequently limits the potential of primary care multidisciplinary teams. Dedicated therapy space, community hubs and modern digital systems are critical to enabling occupational therapists to deliver truly person‑centred and preventative care. 

Genevieve Smyth, RCOT Professional Advisor for primary care, said: 

'We're pleased to see the Senedd’s report recognise the importance of multidisciplinary team working and the need for modern estates that allow these teams to function effectively. These recommendations show that our members’ experiences and expertise have been heard. Occupational therapists already make a significant contribution to primary care in Wales, but sustainable funding, consistent service models and improved infrastructure are essential to ensuring that every community can benefit.

'We look forward to working with the incoming Welsh Government to implement these recommendations and to ensure that occupational therapy is fully embedded in primary care across Wales. With the right investment, occupational therapists can play a transformative role in reducing pressure on GPs, supporting people with long‑term conditions and keeping communities healthy.'