Health recruitment drive slows down
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
A WELSH Government health recruitment
campaign has filled just five vacancies in six months after it was launched in February, said Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams.
She said the letter she received from Health Minister Lesley Griffiths showed that in January 2012 there were 214 medical vacancies in Wales and that in June 2012 there were 209.
Ms Williams, AM for Brecon and Radnorshire, claimed that First Minister Carwyn Jones failed to defend the recruitment campaign in the chamber yesterday when challenged.
She said: "The First Minister confidently told me a year ago that the doctor recruitment campaign would fill most doctor vacancies across Wales.
"Six months after its launch, there has been a net increase of only five vacancies. At this rate of progress, it would take him 20 years to address Wales's shortage.
"The Welsh Labour Government refused to set any targets for their campaign, but that is no excuse at all for completely failing to tackle this problem head on. There is an acute doctor shortage across the whole of Wales."
This summer, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg health bosses spoke of difficulties in recruiting doctors during the debate about removing acute medical services at Neath Port Talbot Hospital.
The Post asked the Welsh Government to comment, but no-one responded at the time of going to press.
campaign has filled just five vacancies in six months after it was launched in February, said Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams.She said the letter she received from Health Minister Lesley Griffiths showed that in January 2012 there were 214 medical vacancies in Wales and that in June 2012 there were 209.
Ms Williams, AM for Brecon and Radnorshire, claimed that First Minister Carwyn Jones failed to defend the recruitment campaign in the chamber yesterday when challenged.
She said: "The First Minister confidently told me a year ago that the doctor
recruitment campaign would fill most doctor vacancies across Wales."Six months after its launch, there has been a net increase of only five vacancies. At this rate of progress, it would take him 20 years to address Wales's shortage.
"The Welsh Labour Government refused to set any targets for their campaign, but that is no excuse at all for completely failing to tackle this problem head on. There is an acute doctor shortage across the whole of Wales."
This summer, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg health bosses spoke of difficulties in recruiting doctors
during the debate about removing acute medical services at Neath Port Talbot Hospital.The Post asked the Welsh Government to comment, but no-one responded at the time of going to press.
No comments:
Post a Comment