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'Game-changing' new medical school opens its doors

BBC Medical student Alaw Jones in one of the buildings at Bangor UniversityBBC
Alaw Jones, a first year student at North Wales Medical School says being able to train in north Wales means she's "most likely going to stay"

A new medical school, hailed as a "game-changer" for the Welsh NHS, has been opened by Wales' first minister.

The North Wales Medical School, based at Bangor University, will allow 80 students to become the first doctors to do all their training in north Wales.

The aim for school, which is set to welcome 140 pupils a year by 2029, is to see more doctors training and then staying in north Wales to build their medical careers.

Dr Nia Jones, medical lead at the new school, said that - with the right training and opportunities - those who qualify in north Wales will be ready to stay in the area.

"If we are able to provide them with the best experience of medical education... and if they feel as part of a team, they will stay," said Dr Jones.

First Minister Eluned Morgan, who opened the school alongside Health Minister Jeremy Miles, said: "Recruiting skilled doctors is a major challenge across the UK and Europe.

"The medical school will be a game-changer for doctor recruitment in Wales, enabling more medical students to train in the region, which is good for our NHS, especially in North Wales."

Wales Minister Eluned Morgan speaks from a podium at Bangor University as part of the opening ceremony for the new North Wales Medical School.
First Minister Eluned Morgan opened the new North Wales Medical School

Figures from 2023 showed there were almost 4,300 staff vacancies within the Welsh NHS, and the Royal College of Physicians has said that more doctors would reduce waiting lists more quickly.

There is concern about recruiting and recruiting medical staff.

Earlier this year the Royal College of Nursing said a Welsh government deal to 250 nurses and doctors from India was not enough to cover shortages.

There have been efforts in recent years to recruit and retain more doctors in Wales.

Begw Lois Fussell, 18, from Pembrokeshire, who has just started training at the school, said the chance to stay within Wales was key to her decision to attend the school.

"It was very important for me that I stay here in Wales," she said.

"My roots are here in Wales. That feeling of home was a big comfort for me."

Medical student looking at camera as she stands in front of North Wales Medical School sign.
Begw stressed how much she wanted to remain in a Welsh community

Alaw Jones, from Criccieth, said it was important for her to be able train in an area where she can speak Welsh as an everyday part of her training.

As for the future, she said it is quite likely that once she has completed her five years of training that she will want to remain in north Wales to work.

"I'll be settled into this area and obviously I'll have developed the skills by then to be able to communicate to patients in Welsh," she said.

"I think that's something important... so I'm most likely going to stay here."

It has taken five years to set up the new medical school, with Cardiff University also involved in the partnership alongside the Welsh government, Bangor University and Betsi Cadwaladr health board.

Until now, students have done some of their training in the Welsh capital.

Dr Nia Jones in Bangor University
Dr Nia Jones says the aim of the school is for students to feel like they can remain in Wales once they graduate

At the opening, Mr Miles said the school will be "key to helping address the challenges of training and retaining doctors".

"It is widely recognised that doctors tend to practice close to where they train," he added.

"The aim is to encourage students to develop lifelong careers within north Wales, benefiting the local population and its communities."

He added that there will be opportunities for developments in relation to research and innovation which it is hoped will also with the recruitment and retention of medical staff.