Latest Doctors News
Welsh need locums to survive
Published On: 23rd August 2011
By: Elizabeth Smythe
More locum agencies doctors are being recruited in North Wales, after authorities experience difficulties attracting junior doctors to the area, writes BBC News.
Figures released to BBC Wales showed that NHS spend on locum doctors has increased by 22 per cent in the last year, due to the problem, from £33.6 million to £41 million.
They also revealed that £100 million has been spent over the last three years in Wales to cover the shortage of doctors. The Royal College of Surgeons last years credited locums with "propping up" the system.
The British Medical Association (BMA) says it is "doing everything it could to ensure patient care was provided by permanent staff," but that there were recruitment issues.
This is on top of pressure from MPs to extend Wales' GP operating hours from 8am to 8pm, which has understandably been met with criticism and lack of support, according to Pulse.
Misconceptions and manpower planning have been blamed for the shortfall of junior doctors. With rotas so busy, the BMA says, there can be "less face-to-face training" for those starting out in the medical profession.
Others are opting to work abroad, mistakenly thinking the conditions are bad, Dr Dai Samuels, BMA chair for the Welsh Junior Doctors Committee says.
"Some people believe we have our own money, there aren't any trains here and it's not a very good place to live, work and train, but they are certainly misperceptions."