GPs drive aims to give health service a tonic
ARECRUITMENT drive to bring new GPs to Wales has been launched by the Welsh Government’s Health Secretary – after a similar campaign last year saw 91% of GP places filled.
Cardiff South and Penarth AM Vaughan Gething launched the refreshed This is Wales: Train. Work. Live. campaign promoting the country as an ideal place for trainees and newly-qualified GPs to come and work.
The UK-wide campaign is aimed at medical students and foundation doctors considering the next stage in their career, as well as trainees at the end of their training. It is also being targeted at recently-qualified GPs as well as experienced GPs who may want to return to the workforce or move to a new location.
Last year the campaign saw 91% of GP training places filled in Wales in 2017.
The scheme offers £20,000 to train in areas of Wales which have had long-term difficulty filling places, on the condition they will remain in the area for one year of practice afterwards.
This year, an incentive is also being offered to encourage psychiatrists to train in Wales, by offering a one off-payment of up to £1,900 to cover the cost of one sitting of the MRCPsych membership exams.
The Health Secretary visited Winch Lane Surgery in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, to launch the campaign.
Pembrokeshire is one of the Welsh Government’s incentivised areas – in 2016 0% of places were filled, but following the campaign, 100% of the places were filled in 2017.
Mr Gething said: “I’ve been absolutely delighted with the success of this campaign, but there’s more work to do to ensure all of our GP training places are filled for the future. I’m pleased we are extending the campaign to encourage psychiatrists to come to Wales. We know there is a real recruitment challenge for the psychiatry workforce across the UK.
“For those considering a career in Wales it’s important to highlight the benefits of working and living here, including an Education Contract for junior doctors, the first in the UK. It guarantees ring-fenced time for learning within the working week to ensure trainee doctors will have access to a wide range of educational opportunities to support their career development.
“I’m proud of the impact this campaign has had so far. It has shown that Wales is not only an excellent place to live, but it’s also a great place to train and work. I am sure it will continue to go from strength to strength.”
Harriet Poynter, a trainee GP who took advantage of the campaign and moved from London to Pembrokeshire, said: “I have lived in London all my life, so a move to Wales was a big step for me. It was always the plan to continue my training in London, but after a year in a long-distance relationship with a man based in Wales, I started to weigh up my options.
“The information provided through the Train. Work. Live. campaign definitely helped sway my decision, as did the incentive to come to the area, which has helped to put a deposit on a house – something I would have found extremely difficult to do in London.
“I am already seeing the benefits of a move to Pembrokeshire. The best thing about working in the hospital here is the effect the Welsh Education Contract is having on my training, allowing me to meet all my training needs. I’m also enjoying living on the coast, even the drive to work still amazes me. Everyone is so friendly and welcoming.”