02.08.12
Cancelled operations in Wales due to doctor shortage
A shortage of junior doctors in Wales has led to numerous operation cancellations, BBC Wales has reported. Royal Glamorgan Hospital has been hit particularly hard by a lack of orthopaedic doctors.
Medical director Dr Kamal Assad told the BBC: “We currently have a shortage of junior doctors in orthopaedics and, as a temporary measure, we have had to cancel a number of operations scheduled to take place at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital, in Llantrisant, over the summer months.”
Cwm Taf Health Board has apologised for the cancellations but stressed it is a national problem faced across the NHS. It is advertising for more doctors to meet the shortages.
The board had to step in last month to tackle “urgent” issues arising from staff shortages at Neath Port Talbot hospital.
The British Medical Association Wales has said that this presents an “unacceptable” risk to patients. BMA Wales released a statement saying that there was a “lack of enthusiasm from doctors to come to live and work in Wales”, and that more needed to be done to promote NHS Wales services to attract new doctors.
A spokesperson for the Welsh Government said: “The shortage of doctors in certain specialities is a problem facing all parts of the UK, including Wales.
“We are responding with the Work for Wales campaign to raise awareness of the opportunities and benefits of working for the health service in Wales.”
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