It’s entirely apparent from all the contributions in the Chamber today that we need a strategy as a matter of urgency to train more doctors in Wales. I will make a case that this strategy will have to be one that is pan Wales. We do have two medical schools—one in Swansea and one in Cardiff—but we have nothing whatsoever in north Wales or in mid Wales. If we are going to start to fill these gaps in terms of doctors and GPs in north Wales, then we do have to provide that training in north Wales. As we have heard on a number of occasions, students do tend to remain in the areas where they train to become doctors. And if we don’t train them in north Wales, then there is no hope of retaining them, clearly, and it becomes very difficult, then, to retain people in the area, because you have nothing in place in the first place. There is a report by Professor Longley from the University of South Wales that demonstrates that 95 per cent of doctors who are trained in Wales do remain in Wales, which is excellent, but what we want is more doctors remaining in Wales, and certainly there is a need for more doctors moving to north Wales, or the problem will simply become critical—even more critical than it is at present.

I’m very pleased to hear that there is some momentum behind this concept of a medical school in Bangor. I’m very pleased that a business case has been drawn up at last by the Welsh Government, and I look forward to seeing that. The people I’ve spoken to—Bangor University, the north Wales health board, the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, the medical association—everyone is in favour of this principle, and therefore it makes sense to move ahead with it. There are a number of very specific reasons as to why we need to take this seriously now. The university in Bangor and the health board are working in partnership already. Bangor University is already providing a wide range of medical health-related education and social care education. It’s a natural step, therefore, to reinforce Bangor’s position as an internationally important research centre. The health board and the university would benefit as entities. Both would be strengthened in retaining the best staff and the best students in the area, and in turn that would strengthen the local economy, with two institutions being major local employers.

We could establish a medical training centre through the medium of Welsh in Bangor. That would be the natural place for that to happen, bearing in mind the strength of the Welsh language in that area. That, in turn, would enhance the supply of bilingual doctors that are needed. In order to achieve your own Government’s strategies, such as the ‘More than just words…’ strategy, we need those bilingual doctors, and there simply aren’t enough of them at present. A medical school with an emphasis on rural medicine would be unique, not only to Wales, but it could also provide innovative solutions and attract students from across the world who are interested in providing care to an ageing population in a rural context. That is relevant in other parts of the world too, of course. But, more than anything, a medical school in north Wales would enhance the service that the people of Wales are provided with. There is no doubt about that. North Wales does feel that it is often forgotten. You will be aware of that. There is a feeling that we are being left behind. This is a very real opportunity for the Welsh Government to show support for north Wales and for our rural areas. So, why not be ambitious? Why not move ahead with this proposal, and, who knows, a medical school, in turn, could lead to other training in north Wales—dentistry, pharmacy, physiotherapy, and so on? Therefore, there is a clear case here. A series called ‘Doctoriaid Yfory ‘—doctors of the future—has just started on S4C, and I was watching it last night. There is so much talent here, and we now need to provide opportunities for more young people, such as the ones we see in that programme, to be trained here in Wales and in north Wales specifically. That, ultimately, will improve the health service for all.