- 25/02/2016
- Posted by: Mike Hedges MS
- Category: Assembly Questions
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Hyfforddi Doctoriaid a Nyrsys | Doctor and Nurse Training |
13:34 – Mike Hedges | |
2. Will the First Minister make a statement on doctor and nurse training at Swansea University? OAQ(4)2719(FM) | |
13:34 – Carwyn Jones | |
Yes. Swansea University plays a key role in supporting the NHS in Wales through the provision of a wide range of education and training programmes. I know that, with regard to nurse training places at Swansea, we are now at the highest level that we have seen in the course of this Government in terms of the nurse training places commissioned. At the moment, that figure stands at 331. | |
13:34 – Mike Hedges | |
Thank you, First Minister. Of course, when the Assembly was created, there were no doctors in training at Swansea University; that’s only something that has come since the Assembly has been here. I’m very pleased to note the increase in numbers and I agree with the First Minister that there’s a whole range of other services, such as physiotherapists, et cetera, but I don’t think I’d have got past the Presiding Officer if I’d listed all of them in the question, so I stuck to doctors and nurses, but I do realise all the others are important. Is this not an example of the Welsh Labour Government supporting the Welsh NHS by having more doctors and more nurses? | |
13:35 – Carwyn Jones | |
Absolutely. We have more doctors than ever, we’re increasing the numbers of nurse training places and we note with concern what’s happening, of course, with nurse bursaries in England and look for more information from the Government department there in terms of how that would work as far as Wales is concerned. But the Minister did announce an £85 million-package to support a range of education and training programmes for healthcare professionals, and we know that investing in our workforce is the key to the NHS’s sustainability in the future. |