This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/8173485.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Hospital doctor shortage warning Hospital doctor shortage warning
(about 2 hours later)
Hospitals in west Wales face a doctors' shortage which could leave them "clinically unsafe" an NHS trust warns.Hospitals in west Wales face a doctors' shortage which could leave them "clinically unsafe" an NHS trust warns.
Contingency plans, such as recruiting from outside of Europe, are being put in place to ensure patients do not suffer in the Hywel Dda NHS trust area.Contingency plans, such as recruiting from outside of Europe, are being put in place to ensure patients do not suffer in the Hywel Dda NHS trust area.
It said it currently has 62 vacancies, including 16 at Haverfordwest's Withybush Hospital and 14 at Prince Philip Hospital, Llanelli.It said it currently has 62 vacancies, including 16 at Haverfordwest's Withybush Hospital and 14 at Prince Philip Hospital, Llanelli.
The British Medical Association (BMA) in Wales has called for urgent action.The British Medical Association (BMA) in Wales has called for urgent action.
It said the staff problem mainly came from the lack of "middle grade doctors" - who often act as the senior doctor on duty in hospitals.It said the staff problem mainly came from the lack of "middle grade doctors" - who often act as the senior doctor on duty in hospitals.
Many come from overseas but the laws regarding immigration have changed, with their entry to the UK being delayed, says the organisation which represents doctors in Wales.Many come from overseas but the laws regarding immigration have changed, with their entry to the UK being delayed, says the organisation which represents doctors in Wales.
It also said there is a "reluctance" among some doctors to work in Wales - particularly outside of Cardiff - "for a variety of reasons".It also said there is a "reluctance" among some doctors to work in Wales - particularly outside of Cardiff - "for a variety of reasons".
We are developing contingency plans to ensure that safe services can be provided, should this recruitment problem continue Dr Alan Axford, Hywel Dda NHS Trust 's medical directorWe are developing contingency plans to ensure that safe services can be provided, should this recruitment problem continue Dr Alan Axford, Hywel Dda NHS Trust 's medical director
"That is particularly true of west and north west Wales," the BMA in Wales said."That is particularly true of west and north west Wales," the BMA in Wales said.
It added that other hospitals, including Singleton and Morriston hospitals in Swansea, are experiencing similar problems.It added that other hospitals, including Singleton and Morriston hospitals in Swansea, are experiencing similar problems.
Hywel Dda NHS Trust said "urgent action" was needed to ensure contingency plans are put in place while the recruitment problems continue.Hywel Dda NHS Trust said "urgent action" was needed to ensure contingency plans are put in place while the recruitment problems continue.
It warned: "From August onwards it is possible that the number of doctors available will reduce to an unacceptably low number.It warned: "From August onwards it is possible that the number of doctors available will reduce to an unacceptably low number.
"Senior consultants and clinical directors are warning that, in certain areas, this will not be enough to safely sustain all services on all sites.""Senior consultants and clinical directors are warning that, in certain areas, this will not be enough to safely sustain all services on all sites."
'Service changes''Service changes'
Of its current vacancies, around 16 are at West Wales General Hospital in Carmarthen, eight at Bronglais General Hospital in Aberystwyth and a further eight in mental health services. It said it hoped to ease the problem by recruiting doctors from outside Europe, although this process can take up to a year and was looking at other options.
It said it hoped to ease the problem by recruiting doctors from outside Europe, although this process can take up to a year.
It said it had also completed an application that would enable a small number of international medical graduates to enter the UK NHS for up to two years, with one doctor starting next month.
And it has placed vacancies with a locum agency and is looking at its current consultant contacts.
Dr Alan Axford, the trust's medical director, said the way services are delivered may need to be changed to cope.Dr Alan Axford, the trust's medical director, said the way services are delivered may need to be changed to cope.
"Hywel Dda NHS Trust, like others across the UK, is facing serious problems in recruiting junior and middle-grade doctors," he said."Hywel Dda NHS Trust, like others across the UK, is facing serious problems in recruiting junior and middle-grade doctors," he said.
"The trust is doing all that it can to mitigate the problem but we are also developing contingency plans to ensure that safe services can be provided, should this recruitment problem continue. He said contingency plans were being developed.
"This may mean that we need to change the way services are delivered.
"As our plans progress we will keep patients, the public, and our partners informed and we would like to reassure them that patient safety will be our primary concern.""As our plans progress we will keep patients, the public, and our partners informed and we would like to reassure them that patient safety will be our primary concern."
'Clarify rules''Clarify rules'
Earlier this month, it was announced that the doctors' recruitment crisis had led to two children's wards closing at Singleton Hospital in Swansea.Earlier this month, it was announced that the doctors' recruitment crisis had led to two children's wards closing at Singleton Hospital in Swansea.
It meant in-patient paediatrics are moving to Morriston Hospital.It meant in-patient paediatrics are moving to Morriston Hospital.
A Welsh Assembly Government spokesperson said: "Changes in immigration rules have caused problems with recruitment across the UK and we're working with trusts to address these issues. A Welsh Assembly Government spokesman said: "Changes in immigration rules have caused problems with recruitment across the UK and we're working with trusts to address these issues.
"The Health Minister, Edwina Hart, has written to the Home Office to ask for a review of the rules in relation to doctors and Assembly Government officials have met with the UK Border Agency to clarify the rules. Additional guidance will be provided to NHS Trusts to help improve recruitment. "The Health Minister, Edwina Hart, has written to the Home Office to ask for a review of the rules in relation to doctors and assembly government officials have met with the UK Border Agency to clarify the rules."
"We have also worked with the Deanery and the BMA to highlight how attractive Wales is to live and work in an effort to encourage more doctors to work here. A recruitment DVD is being given to all final year medical students in Wales, trainees on foundations programmes in Wales and students who express a wish to work as a doctor in Wales. He added that promotional material about working in Wales was being distributed as well as a review group into junior doctors to encourage recruitment.
"A Junior Doctor Review Group has been established to review recruitment, training schemes, rotas and working conditions to promote a positive image of working as a junior doctor in Wales."