A MOTION calling for a ban on smacking children proposed by a Wyedean doctor has been adopted by the Royal College of GPs.

Dr Rowena Christmas, a GP in St Briavels and Trellech, put forward the motion to support legal measures prohibiting a defence of reasonable punishment with regard to children, and to enhance support for parents to use non-physical disciplinary methods.

She proposed the motion to RCGP Council Members who represent more than 50,000 doctors, and following thorough debate, the position was adopted.

Dr Christmas said: “I’m very grateful for all of the support I have had from colleagues and delighted that the RCGP Council saw the benefit in the College taking a clear stance on this important issue.”

It comes as the ‘Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Bill’, introduced by the Welsh Government, is being debated in the Senedd.

Dr Christmas added: “The evidence is absolutely compelling that physically disciplining a child can be harmful to the wellbeing of both child and parent, but that it offers no benefit that cannot be gained from another method such as timeout or withdrawal of privileges.”