Campaign launched to attract GPs to Wales
A MAJOR new campaign to promote Wales as an excellent place for GPs to train, work and live has been launched.
The Welsh Government said the new national and international marketing campaign will be aimed at medical students yet to choose a speciality, as well as trainees coming to the end of their training.
It will also appeal to recently-qualified GPs, those in the early stages of their career and experienced GPs who may wish to work differently or return to the workforce in Wales. Two different financial incentives will also be given to doctors in a bid to keep them in Wales for longer.
Commenting on the new campaign, First Minister Carwyn Jones said: “It’s important we act, and act fast, to ensure that our health service is sustainable in the long term.
“The campaign shows that Wales is not only an excellent place to live – our vibrant cities and towns, epic beaches, and stunning mountains speak for themselves – but it’s also a great place to train and work.
“I want doctors across the whole of the UK and beyond to know that Wales is a fantastic place to train, work and live. Today’s campaign goes a long way in getting that message heard loud and clear.”
Primary care, particularly general practice, is often described as being in “a state of crisis” in Wales.
The rise in patient numbers, workload and stress levels have resulted in many doctors retiring early, going part-time or moving to other fields.
In the past 18 months a significant number of practices have closed or been handed back to health boards, leaving the remaining doctors to pick up the pieces.
But Health Secretary Vaughan Gething said the new campaign is “further reaching” than anything Wales has ever attempted.
He said: “Success will be measured in a number of ways, but ultimately we expect to see an increase in applications for training places with the result of a higher fill rate for places we currently fund.
“Train, work, live is the campaign’s slogan – let’s get that message out there to ensure the primary care sector in Wales has a positive future.”
Training as a GP in areas which have had long-term difficulty filling places is also going to be encouraged through the introduction of an incentive scheme.
The bonded scheme will see trainees receive £20,000 on the understanding they remain in the area in which they took a placement while they train and for one year of practice afterwards.
And a second, one-off payment of £2,000 will be paid to all GP specialty training programme trainees to help cover their final exams following study in Wales. Incentives will be in place in time for the August 2017 intake.
The Wales Deanery, alongside the Welsh Government, Welsh health boards and trusts also today announced a new education contract for junior doctors in Wales.
The contract – a UK first – guarantees ring-fenced time for learning written into their working week to ensure all trainee doctors in Wales will have access to a wide range of educational opportunities to support their career development.