‘NorthWales not attractive to GPs’ due to paperwork
A top doctor says he understands why GPs wouldn’t want to come to north Wales – because of “pathetic” bureaucracy which delays applications to work there by up to six weeks.
Dr Eamonn Jessup, chairman of North Wales Local Medical Committee (LMC), called for the scrapping of the NHS Wales GP Performers List.
The scheme means GPs, even if they are clear to work in other UK nations, must fill out a lengthy application, be DBS checked and declare any gifts above £100 in order to work in Wales.
Dr Jessup says the protocol, which has been in force since 2004, delays applications from doctors who want to work here by up to six weeks, and even affects doctors moving bureaucracy is needed? from one Welsh health board to “You might well ask what is the another. point of a Performers list, when all
He works as a locum after relinquishing other GP registration is UK-wide. the contract to his Prestatyn “Most doctors now feel that separate practice in April 2016, when he and performers lists have not served his partners found it impossible to us well in north Wales, where we have recruit new GPs. been heavily reliant on GPs emigrating
Dr Jessup said he and North Wales from England. Community Health Council (CHC) “It is just pathetic that where we chief Geoff Ryall-Harvey have worked have a so-called United Kingdom we for more than four years to try to have created barriers such as this for make Wales attractive to potential doctors.” recruits. A spokeswoman for the Welsh Government
Mr Ryall-Harvey previously said: “An Options Paper is accused Welsh civil servants of “dragging currently out for consultation. It considers their feet” over implementing measures to simplify the process change. for practitioners in the UK to perform
Dr Jessup told the Daily Post: “England primary medical and dental are not training enough GPs for services in Wales.” their own needs, so why would GPs The consultation closes on February come to Wales where an extra layer of 8.