RECRUITMENT of key staff is still an issue at Tenby Surgery, which has been without a full complement of doctors for 18 months.

The Hywel Dda University Health Board, which is supporting the practice, confirmed this week that a salaried GP and an advanced nurse practitioner are being recruited to work alongside the team.

The surgery currently has two GP partners, supported by two regular GP locums, two nurse practitioners (who can prescribe), two practice nurses and two healthcare assistants.

Pembrokeshire has more empty GP and GP training posts than the rest of Wales, a report to the health board last month revealed.

A public meeting was held in the town in December to discuss staffing levels at the surgery.

It was called by Simon Thomas, the Assembly Member for Mid and West Wales, and was attended by many local people, including former doctors and NHS staff.

Plaid Cymru representative Mr Thomas said that the currently severe shortage of health professionals in Wales means that the country has one of the lowest levels of doctors per head in the whole European Union.

He said: “I am grateful to all those who participated in the meeting, including representatives of local GPs and voluntary sector organisations. We must work together to get the best possible solution both for patients and GPs.

Mr Thomas added that a Plaid Cymru Welsh Government would train and recruit an additional 1,000 doctors to bring down the “desperate” waiting times for tests and GP appointments that are particular hitting mid and west Wales.