Fairness for our NHS Workforce
Plaid Cymru believes that the NHS is nothing without its staff. We stand in solidarity with doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals who are undertaking industrial action on pay and wage restoration. We believe that wage restoration pledges for NHS staff must be implemented as soon as possible, to show that that we value and support our staff and to boost recruitment and retention in key areas.
In Wales we have seen a significant reduction in the numbers of GPs over the past decade. Plaid Cymru will reverse this trend by restoring funding for GPs to 8.7% of the Welsh health budget, and by recruiting an additional 500 GPs across the country. Given the time needed to recruit and train GPs, this will be a two-term pledge.
Plaid Cymru would increase the availability of degree apprenticeships in the healthcare sector to provide greater opportunities for young people to enter the profession and remain in Wales to work.
Unfilled vacancies within the NHS mean that agency spending continues to be at a high level. Better workforce planning and recruitment to posts will save money.
Plaid Cymru believes that shareholders should not be profiting from people’s ill health, and that profits from private agencies would lead to a better service if it was instead re-invested into healthcare.
Nurses’ contracts need to be made more flexible to reflect the age in which we live. Many nurses are part-time because they juggle other responsibilities, such as caring and learning, and need greater flexibility to achieve a work-life balance. Plaid Cymru would move towards an improved working contract for nurses, and recruit more nurses.
Plaid Cymru recognises the value of nursing and physician associates, but their introduction must not come at the expense of the overall expertise of the workforce. Any new roles should be developed with full consultation with the relevant trade unions.