GP registrar training budget remains in place

The BMA's GP Committee for Wales (GPC Wales), the Welsh Faculty of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and the Department for Post Graduate Studies for Wales jointly welcomed the Welsh Assembly Governments assurances that there would be no reductions in the GP Registrar training budget for Wales during this financial year.

Dr Andrew Dearden, Chairman of GPC Wales said:

"I am grateful to Welsh Assembly Government for their commitment to the ongoing training of GP registrars in Wales. In England over the past few months there has been much concern about reductions to the future budgets for GP training resulting in many places reducing and even stopping the recruitment of new doctors desiring to be trained as GPs. With the current shortage of GPs generally, it is good to see that the Welsh Assembly Government continues to place such a high priority on the training of new GPs here in Wales."

Dr Terry Davies, past chairman of the RCGP Council said:

"RCGP Wales is pleased to hear that there is no anticipated reduction in GP training places in Wales and that the Assembly recognises the major importance of general practice in maintaining and reinforcing the quality primary care service in Wales."

Dr Malcolm Lewis, Director of Postgraduate Education for General Practice said:

"The postgraduate deanery has service level agreements with the Welsh Assembly Government in a number of key areas. An important aspect of our relationship is the funding of vocational training for general practice. Despite an acute awareness of funding constraints at a UK level, the deanery is pleased not to have had to consider reductionist policies in GP training at this time of recruitment difficulties."

"We are delighted that the Welsh Assembly Government has taken this decision. The BMA has been reiterating the need for more GPs for many years, and it is gratifying to see that the Government has responded in this positive way. It will go some way to relieve the shortage of family doctors in Wales and ensure that primary care is well resourced to deal with the expected increase in work as a result of the new GP contract which will in turn ensure a better service for patients throught Wales."