Regional MS backs health education expansion in Wrexham and St Asaph
Plaid Cymru's North Wales Member of Senedd Llyr Gruffydd has given his full backing to Wrexham Glyndwr University's plans for a new Health Education Innovation Quarter.
The expansion plan would mean the university becoming the largest training provider in Wales outside Cardiff with more than 1000 extra students in nursing and allied health professions over the full cycle of courses.
Mr Gruffydd said: "The scale of the university's plans is refreshing and very welcome because there is a desperate need for more trained staff in the NHS across the North. Betsi Cadwaladr health board has 500 nursing vacancies and I very much hope that this expansion in training will start to bridge that gap.
"The training is largely based in Wrexham, with its proximity to the Maelor, but also at the university's St Asaph base, which is close to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd. In addition to the general nursing courses for adult, children and mental health, there are specialist courses for Operating Theatre Practice, Occupational Health, Physiotherapy, Paramedics, Speech and Language Therapy, Nutrition and Dietetics."
He added that Glyndwr had pioneered new courses and added: "There's a natural fit between Glyndwr and the Maelor in terms of location and it's been frustrating in the past to see the lack of joined-up thinking by Welsh Government when it comes to training for the NHS in the North. We've finally got a medical school in Bangor and this nursing and allied health profession training will also be an overdue boost to a health service that's been stretched to breaking point.
"I'd like to pay tribute to the staff at Glyndwr University at Wrexham as well as St Asaph who have pushed for this expansion - it's great news for the region as well as the university itself."
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