Successful GP recruitment campaign to continue – Vaughan Gething

The international and UK-wide campaign is aimed at medical students, foundation doctors considering the next stage in their career, as well as trainees coming to the end of their training, to encourage them train, work and live in Wales. It also appeals to recently qualified GPs, those in the early stages of their career and experienced GPs who may wish to work differently, or return to the workforce in Wales.

The success of the campaign resulted in 91% of Wales’ GP training places being filled in 2017.

Vaughan Gething will today visit Winch Lane Surgery in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire to meet trainees who have chosen to start their GP training in Wales. 

Pembrokeshire is one of the Welsh Government’s incentivised areas –  in 2016 0% of places were filled, but following the Train. Work. Live campaign, 100% of the places were filled in in 2017.

During the visit the Health Secretary will announce that last year’s GP training incentive scheme will be available again this year., The scheme offers £20,000 to train in areas of Wales which have had long term difficulty filling places, on the condition they will remain in the area for one year of practice afterwards. 

A second incentive of a one-off payment for all GP specialty programme trainees to cover the first sitting of their final exams will also be continuing.

This year, an incentive is also being offered to encourage psychiatrists to train in Wales. This consists of a one off-payment of up to £1,900 for psychiatry core trainees to cover the cost of one sitting of the MRCPsych membership exams.

The renewed national and international campaign features real medical professionals, who are either from outside Wales and have chosen to move here to train and live or are returning to Wales following a period of working away. 

Health Secretary Vaughan Gething said: 

“I’ve been absolutely delighted with the success of this campaign, but there’s more work to do to ensure all of our GP training places are filled for the future.

“Today I will be announcing the continuation of the incentives we have put in place, and I’m pleased we are extending the campaign to encourage psychiatrists to come to Wales. We know there is a real recruitment challenge for the psychiatry workforce across the UK. 

“For those considering a career in Wales it’s important to highlight the benefits of working and living here, including an Education Contract for junior doctors, the first in the UK. , It  guarantees ring-fenced time for learning within the  working week to ensure  trainee doctors will have access to a wide range of educational opportunities to support their career development.  

“I’m proud of the impact this campaign has had so far. It has shown that Wales is not only an excellent place to live but it’s also a great place to train and work. I am sure it will continue to go from strength to strength.”

Harriet Poynter, a trainee GP who, after seeing the campaign, has taken advantage of the Welsh Government’s incentive scheme and moved from London to Pembrokeshire said: 

“I have lived in London all my life, so a move to Wales was a big step for me. It was always the plan to continue my training in London, but after a year in a long-distance relationship with a man based in Wales I started to weigh-up my options. 

“The information provided through the Train. Work. Live. campaign definitely helped sway my decision, as did the incentive to come to the area, which has helped to put a deposit on a house – something I would have found extremely difficult to do in London. 

“I am already seeing the benefits of a move to Pembrokeshire. The best thing about working in the hospital here is the effect the Welsh education contract is having on my training, allowing me to meet all my training needs. I’m also enjoying living on the coast, even the drive to work still amazes me. There is so much to do here and everyone is so friendly and welcoming.”