Health Professionals

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:41 pm on 21 March 2023.

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Photo of Russell George Russell George Conservative 1:41, 21 March 2023

Thank you, First Minister, for your answer. There's a real issue in my constituency in accessing a GP, often having to wait for a considerable time to see a GP, and there are, obviously, the consequences of that. What I would ask, First Minister, is: what do you see as the barriers for GPs and, indeed, dentists, coming to work in mid Wales and how can those barriers be removed? In particular, I think of the performers list. There is a performers list that GPs, dentists have to apply for in order to work in Wales, and correctly so, in my view, for patient safety reasons. But we are aware, of course, of the long-standing issue where, if you graduate or live in England, you can apply for the English performers list, but there's a disincentive then to come and work in Wales. So, can I ask what you are aware of, in terms of a UK-wide performers list or a joint Wales-English performers list, or, indeed, automatically enrolling people on a Welsh performers list, if the Welsh Government is satisfied with the criteria in England and the process in England? But, ultimately, what can be done to remove any barriers to allow dentists and GPs in particular to come and live and work in mid Wales?