The news of two doctor’s surgeries on Anglesey facing problems recruiting GPs shows the challenges the health service in Wales is facing in terms of workforce shortages, particularly in rural areas, according to the island’s Assembly Member Rhun ap Iorwerth.

With two GPs are one surgery in Holyhead set to end their contracts with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in August and another surgery set to be taken over by the Health Board after being unable to fill GP vacancies, Mr ap Iorwerth labelled workforce shortages as one of the health service’s biggest challenges.
Patients of both surgeries in Holyhead are being urged by the Health Board not to take any action or register with a different practice as all services will continue as normal.

Mr ap Iorwerth added how the new centre for medical education at Bangor University, secured following a long-running Plaid Cymru campaign, will be vitally important in tackling workforce shortages going forward.

“The news of more GPs on Anglesey ending their contracts with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board this week, coupled with the announcement that a surgery in Holyhead is to be taken over by Betsi after being unable to fill vacancies there shows the crisis we’re facing in terms of workforce recruitment in Wales, particularly in rural areas.

“Workforce shortages are among the biggest problems facing our NHS, and whilst that’s about much more than doctor shortages, by making this a priority in our budget asks, I’m proud that Plaid Cymru has been able to make a real difference for the future of our healthcare services in North Wales by securing a centre for medical education at Bangor University to train aspiring medical professionals, and for that training to take place where some of our most acute doctor shortages are felt.”