Written question WQ87235
- Asked by
- Cefin CampbellPlaid
- To be answered by
- Minister for Health and Social Services
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 10 days
Question
What is the Welsh Government doing to promote recruitment and retention of GPs in Mid and West Wales?
Answer
Answered by Minister for Health and Social Services
Since 2016, our Train Work Live marketing campaign has worked with partners to deliver a significant increase in the take up of GP training places in Wales. We have also provided financial incentives to attract GP trainees to specialty training schemes in mid, north and west Wales; areas to which it has been historically difficult to recruit. Targeted incentives are also being extended to the Carmarthenshire Specialty Training Scheme, commencing August 2023.
The GP specialty training programme has been significantly expanded over the past three years and there has been a significant increase in the fill rate for GP training. The current recruitment target of 160 new GP trainees each year is consistently being achieved. Speciality training schemes in mid and west Wales have also benefited from a higher number of appointments into GP training.
GP Fill Rates 2018-2022 (all-Wales)
Year
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Trainees Appointed
134
186
200
182
175
We have also taken a number of positive steps to keep GPs in the profession. Incentives are offered to support doctors to continue working in general practice as they approach retirement or wish to undertake other commitments.