GP trainees in Wales will no longer be employees of individual practices but instead be employed centrally by the Welsh NHS.
The move, announced by Welsh health minister Professor Mark Drakeford, is part of a wider plan to encourage more doctors to work in general practice.
Until now, when doctors undertook placements in GP practices they have been employed by the individual surgeries, meaning that doctors can change employers several times during their training.
A pilot of the single-employer scheme was launched in April 2014, which saw NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership (NWSSP) act as the lead employer for all GP trainees through the duration of their training.
Professor Drakeford said that the changes would be implemented ‘as soon as possible’.
GPC Wales chair Dr Charlotte Jones welcomed the move.
She said: ‘We hope that this development will attract additional GP specialty trainees to come and train in Wales. By having just one employer during this training period, it should make it easier to obtain mortgages and access other benefits such as childcare vouchers.’
