Wales’ Health Minister says to junior doctors: “make your future part of our future here in Wales”

Wales’ Health Minister, Mark Drakeford is encouraging junior doctors to “come and train, live and work in Wales”.

Junior doctors are currently deciding where to apply for speciality training places, including Core Medical training and GP trainees. Potential applicants include those in their F2 year, people returning to training and some overseas recruits who will be due to select core training places over the next three weeks.

As part of a targeted campaign, ‘Make your future part of our future’, the Minister has released a video message explaining why Wales is a great place to be a junior doctor.

In his message, the Minister says the NHS’ founding principles remain at its core in Wales.

In Wales, spending on the NHS has reached a record high, with £6.7bn being invested in the Welsh NHS during 2015/16 – the highest ever.

Wales’ offer to junior doctors includes:

• A fair deal during training years and the Welsh NHS wants to work with doctors to achieve this
• An integrated Health system which is patient centred but values the staff working in it at all levels
• Being at the leading edge of an international Prudent Healthcare movement to secure improved value and health outcomes and we want our doctors in training to help us drive this forward
• An Education Contract aimed at protecting the time required for training whilst providing doctors with the valuable service experience required
• A clinical leader fellowship scheme where doctors can take time out of training for a year and work on making change in an area of interest and an academic scheme to pave a path to academic Medicine.

The General Medical Council National Trainee Survey 2015, which achieved a remarkable 99% response rate from trainees in Wales, found that the overall satisfaction for all trainees in Wales has increased for a fourth consecutive year to 83% in 2015, higher than the satisfaction rates in other parts of the UK.

In a message to junior doctors, Professor Drakeford said:

“The NHS was born in Wales. Founded by Aneurin Bevan, the NHS was born out of the ideal that good healthcare should be available to all, regardless of wealth.

“When it was launched on July 5 1948, it was based on three core principles: that it meet the needs of everyone; that it be free at the point of delivery; and that it be based on clinical need, not ability to pay. These three principles have guided the development of the NHS over more than 60 years and remain at its core here in Wales.

“Wales has a strong tradition of working in partnership with our staff and their representatives. Junior doctors from any part of the UK willing to come to work in Wales will find a very warm welcome.

“My message is clear – train as a junior doctor in Wales and get a flexible, rewarding career where your voice counts, as well as significant training opportunities – all that and so many amazing places to spend your free time.

“Come to Wales, and make your future part of our future.”