Consultant posts for public health doctors due to be advertised

Further to the recent agreement reached between the IMO and the HSE and Department of Health, the first phase of this agreement is underway with a total of 34 posts to be advertised. A delegation from the IMO public health committee met with the HSE’s Chief Clinical Officer’s (CCO) office recently and noted implementation of the agreement is underway.

“We will continue to meet with and engage with the CCOs office over the lifetime of the agreement,” the IMO said in a recent update to members.

Campaigns for the National Director of Public Health (1 WTE) and Area Directors of Public Health (6 WTE) are expected to launch no later than September 2021.

The remaining 27 WTE posts are to be advertised in the last quarter of 2021 and will include the following:

· Director National Health Protection (1 WTE)

· Consultant in Public Health Medicine – Health Protection (18 WTE)

· Consultant in Public Health Medicine – National Health Protection Acute Operations Response (1 WTE)

· Consultant in Public Health Medicine – National Threats Programmes and Preparedness (1 WTE)

· Consultant in Public Health Medicine – National Health Protection Surveillance (1 WTE)

· Consultant in Public Health Medicine – National Immunisations (1 WTE)

· Consultant in Public Health Medicine – National Child Health (1 WTE)

· Consultant in Public Health Medicine – National Cancer Control (1 WTE)

· Consultant in Public Health Medicine – National Screening Services (1 WTE)

· Consultant in Public Health Medicine – National Clinical Advisory Group Lead – Chronic Disease (1 WTE)

All appointments will be by open competition and advertisement and all eligible candidates may apply.

According to the update: “We note that some members will be disappointed that their domain is not covered within the first trance of posts. This is a multi year agreement (as many public sector agreements including national wage agreements, GP agreements and others are) and the next tranche of 30 further posts will see more domains come on stream.

“It is vital that the IMO and its members ensure that our side of the agreement is honoured and that we move onto the next tranche of posts. This includes co-operation with reform within the specialty.

“The challenging circumstances in which this implementation is happening cannot be overstated. Public health doctors have been under significant sustained pressure since the beginning of the pandemic. We wish to thank you as colleagues and as a members for your continued support and participation in the work of the organisation.”