Cross-border GP plans get BMA backing

  Plans to make it easier for English GPs to work in Wales are being supported by the BMA. BMA Cymru Wales hopes the plan by the Welsh Government will help ease the recruitment issues experienced by GP practices in the nation. As part of the plan, the Welsh Government is proposing that English GPs can be included on a health board performers list once their applications have been received, while validation checks are carried out. GPs who have worked in England currently have to wait to take up vacancies in Wales, which has an impact on recruitment and also on GPs providing cover across the border between the two nations. In response to the consultation, BMA Cymru Wales says: ‘We explained in [evidence to the Commons Welsh affairs committee] that there had been a negative impact on recruitment to GP practices in Wales owing to GPs on the English performers list not being immediately able, as a result, to take up vacancies that may exist in practices in Wales. ‘We also said that having separate lists can prevent GP colleagues in nearby practices on either side of the border from simply being able to cover for each other … having separate lists also limits the availability of locums for border practices, as locums on the English performers list aren’t then easily able to undertake shifts in Welsh practices and vice versa.’ BMA Cymru Wales adds that it was pleased with the commitment made by the health and social services minister to the inqui...
Source: BMA News - Category: UK Health Source Type: news