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Wales fills more than 100% of GP training places

Wales has signed up more GP trainees than the initial number of training places allocated for 2017, figures show.

After three rounds of recruitment, the Wales Deanery said it had confirmed the appointment of 144 GP trainees, boosting numbers past the 136 places originally allocated.

It is a 19% increase on the 121 places filled in 2016, and the Welsh Government attributed the success to its Train Work Live campaign.

As part of the campaign, a £20,000 golden handshake was available for some posts that had traditionally been hard to fill, which boosted uptake to 100% in Ceredigion, North East Wales, North West Wales and Pembrokeshire – areas that had all struggled to recruit in previous years.

All trainees were also offered a one-off payment to cover the cost of final exams.

The Train, Work, Live campaign also highlighted the beauty of Wales and benefits of working in the country.

Wales has also introduced the first education contract in the UK to guarantee ringfenced time for learning for junior doctors.

Health Secretary Vaughan Gething said: ’I am delighted we’ve filled all the GP training places for Wales this year, and in particular some of the traditionally hard to recruit rural areas.

’It shows our marketing campaign has been a great success and Wales really is a great place to train, work and live.’

Current incentives to attract GPs are being rolled over to 2018.

The figures suggest Wales has achieved better uptake for GP trainees than the rest of the UK, with latest figures showing Scotland lagging the furthest behind at 74%.