A further 200 nurses and doctors from Kerala in India will be
recruited to join the health service in Wales.
The announcement strengthens the agreement made between the Welsh
Government and the Government of Kerala last year to support
ethical recruitment from India to Wales, and on the basis of
mutual benefit.
The NHS in Wales now has more staff than at any point in its
history, directly employing almost 97,000 full-time equivalent
staff, and the Welsh Government is committed to continue
investing in the current workforce and in training the NHS
workforce of the future.
By welcoming healthcare professionals from Kerala, the NHS is
benefiting from a wealth of knowledge which bring skills and
experience that enrich the healthcare system.
More than 300 healthcare professionals have already taken up
positions across NHS Wales from the Indian state since the
agreement was signed in March 2024.
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care met staff coming to Wales and
thanked them for their support of NHS Wales.
Staff Nurse Teena Thomas from Karunagappally is set to join NHS
Wales soon and said: "I'm drawn to NHS Wales' commitment to
providing high-quality patient care and its reputation for
excellence in healthcare.
“I'm excited to be part of a team that values compassion,
kindness, and respect. The opportunity to work in a multicultural
environment and contribute to the well-being of the Welsh
community is truly fulfilling. I'm looking forward to developing
my skills and expertise in a supportive and inclusive work
environment."
The Health Secretary also met with Minister for Health, Woman and
Child Development, Veena George, to reaffirm and strengthen the
working relationship between Wales and Kerala.
Health Secretary, said: “We are committed to
delivering a sustainable NHS workforce which can handle present
demands and meet the needs of the future.
“Wales has a long and proud tradition of welcoming healthcare
professionals from all over the world and ethical international
recruitment is a key part of our workforce strategy to ensure
that the NHS in Wales has the right people and skills it needs.
“I am pleased a further 200 healthcare professionals from Kerala
will be playing an important part in supporting NHS Wales,
joining those who have already been recruited to our healthcare
system.
“I thank them for everything they do and the Government of Kerala
for the warm welcome and look forward to continuing to build our
strong working relationship.”
