Need to ‘streamline’ consultant recruitment process

Consultants have called for a review of the HSE’s appointment process – particularly in relation to retirements.

At the recent IMO AGM, the national consultant committee called on the Department of Health and the HSE to work with the Organisation to review and streamline the consultant recruitment and appointment process. The aim is to help reduce gaps in patient care that can arise during delays in this process. 

Speaking to the Medical Independent at the AGM, Chair of the consultant committee Prof Matthew Sadlier said the system for appointing consultants was “a bit archaic”, especially in regard to retirements. Prof Sadlier is also a member of the HSE consultant applications advisory committee (CAAC).

“If a consultant retires, we can’t start the process of applying for the replacement post until they leave,” he said. While there was logic in reviewing the nature of the post, he said the process should be allowed to start before the departure of the consultant.

“We need to get tighter on identifying when consultants retire… encourage consultants to give adequate notice when they retire…. So when the person leaves, you may already have had the interview for the post.”

Separately, the 2024 annual report of the CAAC stated that the average turnaround time for processing post applications to approval was six weeks. A HSE spokesperson told this newspaper that this six-week turnaround was “similar to previous years”.

The spokesperson said it is “yet to be determined” whether the creation of the six health regions would impact the work of the CAAC.

The purpose of the CAAC is to provide independent and objective advice to the HSE on applications for consultants and qualifications for consultant posts.