NOTE: By submitting this form and registering with us, you are providing us with permission to store your personal data and the record of your registration. In addition, registration with the Medical Independent includes granting consent for the delivery of that additional professional content and targeted ads, and the cookies required to deliver same. View our Privacy Policy and Cookie Notice for further details.



Don't have an account? Register

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Lack of ‘effective’ workforce planning highlighted by new figures-IMO

By Reporter - 15th Aug 2024

consultant recruitment

The recently published Medical Council Workforce Intelligence Report for 2023 highlights the “continuing lack of an effective medical workforce plan in Ireland” the IMO warned today.

The Organisation said the report confirmed that there is “an unsustainable reliance” on too few doctors to meet consistently rising demand.

The IMO said the report highlights significant data that should inform policy around medical workforce planning and emphasises the challenges the medical workforce is facing across all specialties.

Dr Denis McCauley, IMO President, said the Medical Council document “emphasises the scale of the challenge and the urgent need for action”.

“In particular it confirms our own findings of the over-reliance the health system has on our NCHD colleagues, and the very significant issues faced by NCHDs”

According to the IMO, research it conducted in 2024 shows that 83 per cent of NCHDs are working excessive, illegal and unsafe working hours in contravention of the Organisation of Working Time Act which is showing an increase in illegal working hours since 2023.

“The Medical Council data confirms our reliance on international doctors to deliver our health services, but their commitment to our patients is not matched by the HSE or the Government who are failing to provide them with training opportunities and career structures.”

Dr McCauley said: “We have a growing population which increases the demand for healthcare. The Government must take note of the data in this report to address what is a crisis in medical workforce planning.”

 He added that consultants were also experiencing intense pressure, with many retiring early as a result. “Consultants regularly work above and beyond their contracted hours yet are consistently and incorrectly faced with charges of low productivity. This is unacceptable,” he said.

Leave a Reply

ADVERTISEMENT

Latest

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Issue
The Medical Independent 3rd December 2024

You need to be logged in to access this content. Please login or sign up using the links below.

ADVERTISEMENT

Trending Articles

ADVERTISEMENT