'Critical shortage of doctors' threatens services

NHS officials have spoken out for the first time about how a shortage of doctors and a change to immigration rules are threatening hospital services.

Hospital services across south Wales are under threat as it is thought that up to 100 medical posts are empty because trusts cannot fill vacancies with doctors from countries outside the European Union (EU), particularly India and South East Asia, reports Wales Online.

Leanne Wood, Plaid Cymru assembly member for South Wales Central, who uncovered the extent of the problem, told the new provider: "It is extremely concerning to see such high levels of vacancies of doctor grades within the Welsh NHS."

She added that she feared that unless this situation is addressed and management skills improve, services will be deemed unsustainable.

Judith Hardisty, Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust's human resources director, said that the rule change had meant that even if they identified a suitably-qualified and experienced doctor from a non-EU country, it can extremely difficult to obtain a work permit for them.

Last month, Dr Richard Lewis, welsh secretary of the British Medical Association, said that the NHS was facing an unprecedented shortfall in middle-grade and junior doctors right across Wales, reported Wales Online.

What can be done to get more doctors into the NHS?