Just 1 per cent of specialist trainees accessed flexible training in 2022/2023, according to Medical Council data.

The Medical Council’s 2024 Quantitative Annual Returns show that uptake of flexible training is consistently low.

Flexible training schemes are designed to accommodate doctors who have personal or professional commitments that make full-time training difficult. These schemes allow doctors to work less than full-time while still completing their training and progressing in their careers.

Ahead of International Women’s Day on 8 March, Medical Council President Dr Suzanne Crowe commented: “I would encourage doctors in specialist training programmes to seek information on flexible options if they are struggling currently. Resources are available, but more encouragement and mentorship among doctors is also needed.

“Flexible training can be a useful option for doctors who may have caring responsibilities, who prefer to train in a part-time capacity, or who desire a better work/life balance. Our research shows that doctors continue to leave the register each year for reasons such as burnout and lack of flexibility.

“Women can bring a unique understanding of women’s health issues, paving the way for change in medicine, and helping other patients to feel safe and heard. I often speak about the fact that doctors who have familial and care priorities at home need greater flexibility and work arrangements. These are essential components in ensuring we retain our doctors in Ireland.”

The Medical Council’s 2024 Quantitative Annual Returns shows:

• Doctors’ uptake of flexible training is consistently low. Overall, just 1 per cent of doctors in basic specialist training (BST) and 6 per cent in higher specialist training (HST) availed of flexible training options in 2022/2023.
• The most popular type of flexible training and leave were post reassignment requests and approved leave, such as maternity, paternity, personal leave, etc.
• The gender balance among doctors enrolled in programmes of specialist training in 2022/2023 was quite evenly split, with slightly more females than males at both BST and HST level (54 per cent of doctors in BST programmes were female and 46 per cent were male; in HST, 56 per cent of doctors were female and 44 per cent were male).
• The figures for some individual programmes showed more marked gender imbalances. In BST, the majority of doctors specialising in obstetrics and gynaecology (87 per cent) and paediatrics (74 per cent) were female. In HST, female doctors were in the majority in public health medicine (85 per cent) and obstetrics and gynaecology (84 per cent) while males were the majority in neurosurgery (89 per cent) and trauma and orthopaedic surgery (78 per cent).

Dr Crowe noted that medical training has historically been gendered or male-focused.

The Council President also commented on recent progress in improving equitable access to medical treatment for women. “I’m pleased to see that this week, Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD led the launch of Women’s Health Week 2025, which affirms the Department of Health’s commitment to driving continued progress across all aspects of healthcare to ensure an equitable service for everyone.

“Since the launch of the first Women’s Health Action Plan three years ago, I have been pleased to see initiatives such as specialist endometriosis teams, the opening of more ambulatory gynaecology clinics, and treatments focusing on prevention and early intervention initiatives for cardiovascular and bone health, aimed at women in midlife and older. There is no one size fits all model of care, and for women to live longer, healthier lives, gender-specific healthcare is essential.”

Find out more about International Women’s Day here:  https://www.internationalwomensday.com/Missions/20806/How-can-we-accelerate-action-for-addressing-the-gender-health-gap

The Medical Council has today launched a public consultation on draft rules for the establishment of subcommittees of the preliminary proceedings committee (PPC).

The role of the Medical Council, as the regulator of doctors in Ireland, is to protect the public by ensuring high standards of professional conduct, performance, and education among doctors. One of the ways it carries out this role is to investigate complaints raised about the health, performance and conduct of doctors in Ireland.

Section 81 of the Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Act 2020 will amend Section 11 of the Medical Practitioners Act 2007 to provide for the establishment of sub-committees of the PPC.  This public consultation is requesting feedback from stakeholders on one element of the amendment – that the Chair of the PPC or a nominated member of the PPC will have the power to create subcommittees (or smaller groups) to review and provide opinion to the Medical Council on complaints received.

When a complaint is made to the Medical Council, it is handled initially by the PPC. The PPC’s function is to give initial consideration to complaints against doctors in order to identify the cases which raise serious concerns and where it is necessary to take further action.

Its role is to conduct a preliminary assessment of the complaint to determine whether there is sufficient cause to warrant further action being taken. If the PPC decides that a complaint warrants further action, it may refer the complaint to the fitness to practise committee.

This stakeholder consultation provides an opportunity for doctors, members of the public, individuals and organisations to submit comments and suggestions on the draft rules relating to the establishment of PPC subcommittees. Feedback via the online survey is welcomed until Friday 7 March 2025.

Dr Suzanne Crowe, President of the Medical Council, encouraged stakeholders to participate in the survey: “The Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Act 2020 introduces amendments to existing legislation governing the regulation of those practising in healthcare, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists and other health and social care professionals.

“The Medical Council carries out regular public consultations so that the opinion and input of our stakeholders is considered in the work we are undertaking. I would invite anyone who has an interest in the remit of the Medical Council to take part.”

Mr Ciarán Buggle, Executive Director, Complaints, Investigations and Fitness to Practise at the Medical Council, added: “Having the fluidity to organise around specific problems without sacrificing our core functions is key to efficient and effective complaints resolution. The creation of subcommittees at PPC allows us to conduct inquiries expeditiously and dispose of matters quickly leading to greater efficiency in the processing of complaints.

“We have worked closely with the Department of Health in recent years to seek legislative changes to make improvements to the complaints process, which will allow less serious complaints to be resolved at an earlier stage, and ensure our focus is on the most significant complaints.

“The legislation will also help to facilitate our move to a more flexible regulatory model. We look forward to this legislation being commenced.”

The public consultation survey is available here: https://medicalcouncil.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_e9cTcgzTSYt78SG

The Medical Council has today launched CAREhub, an independent, confidential service operated by Lyra Health International. The service provides mental health and wellbeing support to medical students, doctors, and members of the public who are engaging with the Council’s regulatory processes.

CAREhub was launched today at a stakeholder briefing in Dublin.

CAREhub provides independent mental health support to doctors, medical students, and members of the public who are engaging with the Council’s regulatory processes.

According to the Medical Council “This service offers confidential, impartial, and empathetic guidance to those interacting with the Medical Council’s regulatory processes, such as education, training, complaints, investigations, and fitness to practise procedures.”

Individuals will have “immediate access to trained counsellors who are equipped to provide a supportive, understanding environment”. The Council stated the initiative reflects its “dedication to prioritising mental wellbeing and aligning with global best practices, ensuring that emotional support is readily available to all those affected by the regulatory process”.

Speaking at CAREhub’s launch, Dr Suzanne Crowe, President of the Medical Council, said: “CAREhub is a new initiative designed to enhance wellbeing of doctors and members of the public who are engaging with a regulatory process. The Medical Council’s regulatory role spans the entire lifecycle of a doctor’s career, ensuring the highest standards of care from education through to retirement. 

 “We hope that those engaging with the Medical Council will utilise this service if they need it, and that it will help doctors, medical students and members of the public to feel supported. It’s worth highlighting that only a very small percentage of all doctors are subject to complaints during the course of their career.”

Mr Paul Byrne, Executive Director of Regulatory Operations and Support Services at the Medical Council, welcomed the new initiative: “As a key strand of our new liaison and support services framework, CAREhub strengthens the Medical Council’s mission to support a healthcare system where the health and wellbeing of our key stakeholders – doctors, medical students, and the public – is of utmost importance. By embedding kindness and empathy into our regulatory processes, we hope to provide a more compassionate and effective regulatory environment.”

Ms Niamh Dunne, Head of Liaison at the Medical Council, explained how to use CAREhub: “Those engaging in a Medical Council regulatory process can connect with CAREhub through self-referral or obtain access details from your designated contact at the Medical Council or via our website.”

CAREhub’s online platform can be accessed via Lyra Health International’s website at https://lyrahealthinternational.com

Service users can call the Ireland free 24/7 helpline on 1800 851115 or the out-of country 24/7 helpline on +353 818 370 051, use the 24/7 chat function on the Lyra Wellbeing Hub, or email the clinical team (ukroicustomercare@lyrahealth.com).

The Medical Council has today launched a public consultation on its draft strategic plan to cover the period 2024 to 2028. To help inform this strategy, an online survey is now open and feedback from the public is welcome until 27 September 2024.

The Council is inviting members of the public including patients, the medical profession, media, and other stakeholders, to give their views on the draft strategic plan by participating in the online survey. The Council stated it is keen to encourage as broad a range of feedback as possible from individuals, groups and organisations.

The Medical Council has been following its current statement of strategy since 2019. This new strategic plan is the fourth since the introduction of the Medical Practitioners Act 2007 and will be a progression of the previous 2019 – 2023 strategy. 

President Dr Suzanne Crowe encouraged members of the public to participate in the survey: “Our draft strategy is the result of an extensive development process, during which we’ve already worked with many of our stakeholders.  Insights on this draft will be invaluable in shaping the final strategic plan, which will be our organisation’s roadmap for the next five years. I would invite anyone who has an interest in the remit of the Medical Council to review and have their say.”

Mr Colm O’Leary, Executive Director, Strategy and Business Services at the Medical Council, added: “We’ve undertaken a comprehensive engagement process to inform the development of this strategy, and this draft reflects the feedback that we have already received.  This public consultation is the last step to ensure that we have it right before we finalise. We’re grateful to the medical practitioners, public and patient representatives, and other stakeholders who have already contributed to our online questionnaire or provided inputs at our stakeholder roundtable meeting last year.”

The public consultation survey questionnaire is available here – https://medicalcouncil.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2gXUxdFwYpfl9JQ

The draft strategic plan is available here – medical-council-draft-statement-of-strategy-for-public-consultation.pdf (medicalcouncil.ie)

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.

The Medical Council has today published its new sanctions guidance, which comes into effect immediately.

In cases where a complaint about a doctor is deemed serious enough to be referred to the Medical Council’s fitness to practise committee, an inquiry may take place. At a fitness to practise inquiry, both parties are given the opportunity to present their case before the Medical Council’s fitness to practise committee. Should there be a finding by the committee that a doctor’s fitness to practise is impaired, the Medical Council must then decide the appropriate sanction(s) to impose. The new sanctions guidance is designed to assist the Council in making this decision. 

The Medical Council stated it “believes that it is important to be as transparent as possible, and that the new sanctions guidance will also be of assistance to the medical profession, their representatives, and members of the public”. The document covers:

• the purpose of sanctions;
• the approach taken to sanctions;
• factors to be considered when deciding on sanctions;
• cases which may result in a more serious sanction being imposed.

The Medical Council may revise its sanctions guidance as and when it determines necessary.

Ms Mairead Britton-Doyle, Executive Director, Fitness to Practise and Monitoring at the Medical Council, said: “We’re pleased to launch this revised guidance today. We have focused on clarifying the existing guidance and increasing transparency around the Medical Council’s role in the fitness to practise process. This document aims to be more accessible for both the public and doctors and will help those engaging with the Medical Council to better understand our processes.”

Dr Suzanne Crowe, President, Medical Council, added: “One of the important statutory functions placed on the Medical Council is determining a doctor’s fitness to practise following the investigation of a complaint and fitness to practise inquiry. We’re very much aware of the difficulties that can be involved in going through the fitness to practise process for both doctors and complainants.

“The publication of this guidance today increases the transparency around decision-making processes of the Council when it comes to sanctioning a doctor. Indemnifiers are there for doctors to engage with for support, guidance, and representation throughout the fitness to practise inquiry process, which is complex and legalistic.”

The guidance is available here: https://www.medicalcouncil.ie/existing-registrants-/complaints/guidance-on-sanctions-imposed-by-the-medical-council.pdf