What is the Welsh Government doing to retain GPs in Wales who are trained in Wales?
We are committed to increasing the number of GPs in Wales and have taken a number of steps to improve recruitment and retention within the GP workforce.
Our Train Work Live marketing campaign, launched in October 2016, promotes medical careers in Wales both within the UK and internationally. The campaign supports the recruitment activities undertaken by health boards, trusts and GP practices.
As part of the campaign two incentives have been available. The first incentive of £20,000 is offered to GP trainees who take up a training place in a specified hard to recruit area. The incentive is paid if the GP trainee commits to remain in a targeted area for one year of practice after qualification. A second incentive, available to all GP trainees, is a one off payment of £2,000 to cover the final GP trainee examination costs.
The financial incentives for GP trainees taking up posts in specified hard to fill areas has made a significant difference. In 2017, 144 GP trainees were appointed, surpassing the 136 training places available at the beginning of the recruitment round, representing a 19% improvement on the 2016 fill rate. We have also agreed with the Wales Deanery to advertise an additional 12 GP trainee posts as part of the 2018 recruitment round, above the historical target of 136.The results of the three rounds of recruitment in 2018 (round 1, round 1 re-advert and round 2) will be available later this year.
We are also working closely with GPC Wales and NHS Wales to make the profession more attractive whilst improving access to services and ensuring GP practice sustainability. I made a statement on 14 May 2018 addressing the professions concerns over the rising costs of indemnity fees, confirming that the Welsh Government will introduce a state backed scheme to provide clinical negligence indemnity for providers of GP services in Wales. The scheme is planned to come into force from April 2019.
We have provided opportunities for GPs who want to develop a portfolio career by enabling individuals to undertake GP clinical academic roles in some areas of Wales and we are currently considering whether further steps can be taken to assist those returning to GP practice in Wales from elsewhere.
We are also encouraging young people to consider a career as a GP by raising their awareness of the valuable role GPs play in society. In 2016 a pilot work experience scheme was introduced for Year 11 and 12 students enabling them to spend 3 days during the school holidays in a GP practice to better understand the role of the GP and other practice professionals. Feedback from the pilot was positive and the approach has continued for 2017 and 2018.
We have also funded a two day residential event on 21 and 22 June 2018, for individuals considering a medical career. The event was hosted through a partnership between Y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol and Cardiff and Swansea Universities. This pilot was focussed on individuals within the valleys taskforce area and north Wales. It has been tailored to provide individuals with an understanding of the role of a doctor; skills to assist them in making an application to medical school Individuals will also receive support from a dedicated mentor and be invited to a masterclass on successful interviews for those who have applied to medical school. A feedback report has been provided to officials and this report will inform the future direction of this initiative. An equivalent event for English speaking students is currently being organised.
Work is underway to implement my statement about the expansion of 40 medical school places to support individuals who wish to study medicine across Wales. The collaborative approach we are undertaking with Cardiff, Swansea and Bangor universities will mean that from 2019 arrangements will be in place for students to be able to study the totality of their degree in north Wales if they so wish, with increased opportunities for individuals to study in west Wales. The arrangements also aim to increase the number of individuals able to study through the medium of Welsh.
More detailed work is currently underway to finalise the arrangements necessary to deliver this expansion in future years. It is too early for me to provide full details at this stage.