New plans unveiled for Wales-wide medical education

HEALTH Secretary Vaughan Gething has unveiled plans to expand medical education Waleswide.

Following a link-up between Cardiff and Bangor Universities, students will be able to carry out all of their medical degree in north Wales by 2019.

It will also coincide with the expansion of medical education in Wales – with 40 newly-funded medical places available from September – a total of 20 are being created in Swansea and a further 20 in Cardiff medical schools.

Swansea University will be working together with Aberystwyth University in a drive to increase the range of opportunities linked with the field in west Wales.

It is hoped the decision will help to retain medical expertise in Wales in the wake of doctor shortages.

Plaid Cymru Arfon AM Siân Gwenllian and MP Hywel Williams, who have campaigned to bring full undergraduate medical training to Bangor, said: “This is excellent news, as it will mean that for the first time doctors will be based in Bangor for their medical training.

“As there is overwhelming evidence to show that medical students stay to become GPs and doctors in the area they are trained, this development is great news for patients who currently face long waiting times for appointments due to doctor shortages.

“Plaid Cymru has always maintained that we need more doctors and other professional staff in order to improve our cherished NHS.”

Students will focus most of their studies in community-based settings as the Welsh Government drives ahead with its policy that care should be delivered close to patients’ homes.

Mr Gething said: “I am very pleased to announce that students will be now be able to start their journey of becoming doctors by studying medicine in north Wales. This is the result of Welsh universities working together to address the challenges we face in sustaining our medical workforce in Wales.

“I have always been clear that, rather than creating a new medical school in North Wales, the best way to expand medical education there would be through collaboration. This means we will have students studying medicine in north Wales far quicker.

“It is also important to acknowledge the challenges faced in other parts of Wales, especially in the west. That is why we are increasing numbers at Swansea and supporting them to work with Aberystwyth University.”