Cherilyn Mackrory, MP for Truro and Falmouth, has called on the Government to do all it can to support training of additional doctors in Cornwall through tackling Cornwall’s housing crisis and supporting local training centers.
Speaking in the debate on Tuesday, Cherilyn expressed the need for additional doctor training to manage long waiting times and understaffed services. She thanked healthcare staff for their outstanding work throughout the pandemic and the difficult winter Cornwall is facing.
Cherilyn praised facilities in Cornwall for their success in attracting GPs to Cornwall, for example, the Cornwall Training Hub and the University of Exeter’s medical school campus.
However, Cherilyn raised concerns that Cornwall’s geography means it is difficult to share staff with other areas or trusts, making local training vital to Cornwall’s staffing levels. In addition, Cornwall’s health services are put under pressure year-round as its unique beauty attracts 2 million visitors a year, leaving little respite in the summer before difficult winters.
Cherilyn praised the Government for growing the health and social care workforce, with more than 4,000 more doctors compared with last year, and raised the need for these doctors to be spread throughout the country to areas such as Cornwall – and for more local housing in Cornwall to make this possible.
Cherilyn said:
“I’d like to see more doctors and junior doctors who are training at the university consider moving to Cornwall to start their careers. Those who do will find themselves surrounded by a community of extremely welcoming and friendly people, both students and staff, and the beauty of the outdoors.
“The government must do all it can to tackle the housing crisis in Cornwall. I’ve called for this before in Parliament to ensure that key workers from both public and private sectors can afford to buy and rent.
“I join my colleagues in calling for additional training places for doctors, and I hope that the Government recognise that those wishing to train in Cornwall are a key part of the solution. I look forward to continuing to work with the Government on all aspects of improving the health service, with a particular tilt towards rural and coastal areas and, of course, I invite the Minister to Cornwall to talk to our healthcare providers to see their particular challenges.”
“I look forward to continuing to work with the government on all aspects of improving health services with a particular tilt towards rural and coastal areas.”
Will Quince, Minister of State for the Health Department, thanked Cherilyn for her contribution and said:
“Through the programme of work that I outlined and the long-term planning that NHS England has under way, which will be published this year, we are ensuring that the NHS has the robust and resilient workforce that we know it needs for the future.”