Senedd Health, Social Care and Sport Committee report on medical recruitment

Responding to the publication of the Senedd Health, Social Care and Sport Committee report on medical recruitment, Dr Gareth Llewelyn, RCP vice president for Wales, said:

“We strongly welcome the recommendations of the Committee in this new report which contains some exciting and innovative ideas – I’m delighted to see a focus on increasing support for Welsh-domiciled medical students and a recommendation to increase undergraduate training numbers. For some time we have also been calling for national action to develop rural medicine, and a joint plan to take this forward would be a very positive step.

“Last year, the RCP published figures demonstrating that the NHS recruitment crisis in Wales is not confined to GPs. In 2015—2016, we were unable to fill 40% of consultant physician vacancies, and there are ongoing major trainee rota gaps in every one of our hospitals. This cannot continue as it impacts directly on the quality and efficiency of patient care.

“The Committee’s call for more robust, long-term and transparent NHS workforce planning is to be welcomed. The RCP is keen to work with other organisations, including health boards, Wales Deanery and Welsh Government, to develop an ambitious and sustainable vision for how the NHS in Wales will work in the future.

“Implementing these recommendations will need a drastic change in mind-set, and our doctors are clear that we want to work with Welsh Government and NHS Wales to improve patient care and solve this workforce crisis.”