We need medical school to tackle doctor shortage
PLAID AM CALLS ON GOVT TO ACT QUICKLY ON CRISIS
A MEDICAL school should be setup in Bangor to tackle a shortage of doctors.
That’s the call from Arfon AM Siân Gwenllian for the Welsh Government to bring forward the business case as part of an allWales solution to the crisis.
Speaking in the Senedd, Ms Gwenllian said training and recruiting more medical staff was crucial to securing the long-term sustainability of the NHS.
She said: “We know that Wales has fewer doctors per head of the population than most of Europe, and in North Wales the situation is even worse with around 47% of doctors in the Dwyfor area of Gwynedd approaching retirement age.
“It’s time to bring forward the business case and make the Bangor Medical School a reality as part of an all-Wales doctor training plan.”
Ms Gwenllian also asked Vaughan Gething, cabinet secretary for health to commit to taking a “full and central part in the process now needed to make the medical school happen”.
She added: “The First Minister, Carwyn Jones, has s already agreed to considerer a business case for a new medicall school in Bangor and I am pleased to have another opportunity to raise the matterr with Welsh Govern-nment this week. “Plaid Cymru’s agreement with the Welsh Government laid down the foundation for a Bangor Medical School in securing a commitment to train and recruit more GPs and medical staff in Wales, and I will continue to press the Labour government in order to deliver this goal.” CaernarfonCaernar medical studentstuden Betsan Gruffydd,Gru currently studying medicineic at Queen’s College Belfast, backed the calls. On a meeting withwi Ms Gwenllian she said: “I very m much support Plaid Cymru and their campaign to establish a medical school for North Wales.
“I know that many of my friends would have liked to have had the option to study nearer to home.
“It’s true that young people do have a wanderlust, but it’s not the case for all of us, and in today’s financial climate not everybody can afford to study far from home.”
A Welsh Government spokesman said the Health Secretary has asked his officials to carry out some work in this area.
He added: “He also confirmed he will be looking at what currently exists within the current clinical school and other arrangements for training in North Wales. Any decision about future developments would be based on evidence that change would help deliver on our priorities for medical recruitment.”