Three sixth-year interventional radiology posts approved by regions

Two health regions have approved funding for three sixth-year interventional radiology (IR) training posts for the July 2027 intake. HSE National Doctors Training and Planning (NDTP) recommended the establishment of four posts overall.

A spokesperson for the RCSI Faculty of Radiology and Radiation Oncologists (FRRO) told the Medical Independent (MI) it will continue developing the two-year IR training pathway.

“The FRRO is seeking further expansion of this IR pathway and sixth-year posts to meet the workforce needs of Ireland. We will continue to engage with HSE NDTP, National Clinical Programme for IR, and regional health area management partners to achieve a target of seven sixth-year posts for IR training.”

As previously reported by MI, the FRRO has been critical of the Medical Council’s decision in 2025 to reject specialty status for IR, arguing this has impeded the development of an IR training programme. In a statement to MI in April, it said the lack of specialty status for IR “continues to create significant and avoidable risks” for patients and the healthcare system. These risks relate to workforce and service fragility, “particularly in emergency and out-of-hours IR, where lack of recognition undermines investment and staffing.”

The Medical Council’s specialty recognition process has been closed to new applications since late 2022. The FRRO has proceeded to develop an IR training pathway, and assisted by NDTP, has identified posts to support this pathway.

A HSE spokesperson said that NDTP commissions and funds postgraduate medical training programmes for specialties recognised by the Medical Council. These programmes are also accredited by the Council.

Currently, IR does not have specialty status with the Medical Council and therefore does not have a Council-accredited training programme.

According to the HSE, NDTP continues to work with the FRRO and the IR National Clinical Programme in relation to medical workforce requirements and any implications for postgraduate medical training.

While health regions have responsibility for service implementation, workforce planning, and funding decisions, the IR National Clinical Programme is also supporting work to advance the recommendations set out in the HSE/RCSI Model of Care for Interventional Radiology, in particular 24/7 emergency IR in all health regions.

The IR National Clinical Programme “fully supports” the development of the new two-year training pathway.

The model of care was published in February 2026. The document described IR procedures as “an integral part” of medicine. Many specialties now acknowledge the availability of IR as “essential” to the safe delivery of their service.

However, IR faced “key structural and governance challenges” within the Irish health service. These include the lack of specialty recognition by the Medical Council, training gaps, and current and future workforce shortages.

It noted that IR trainees are sought from the general pool of radiology trainees with variable recruitment success. Trainees subspecialise in their fifth (final) year and typically have had to go abroad to ensure a second year of IR training. Three trainees entered fifth year SpR IR training posts in July 2026.