The IMO has called on the Government to increase the number of approved consultant posts from approximately 4,200 to 6,000 by 2028.
Launching its pre-Budget submission the organisation also said that there needed to be an increase in the number of training posts to “ensure alignment” with future service requirements and training.
The IMO also wants to see a fully funded plan to increase the number of acute beds within the hospital system by 5,000 by 2028 to meet the “needs of our growing and ageing population”. This figure includes a “front-load investment” in 1,600 beds in 2024.
Speaking at an online media briefing attended by the Medical Independent , Dr John Cannon, President of the IMO said that “we are also looking for a substantial increase in rehabilitative beds, long term nursing home beds”.
On general practice, Dr Cannon said the IMO is looking for “substantial supports to be put in place for young and newly establishing GPs. It is not just enough to train GPs, you need to be able to set them up in a fully functioning and operating business. At the moment the costs are completely prohibitive for young GPs”.
“We are also calling on the Government to publish and resource a complete investment plan to fully digitalise our health service over the next five years.”
On workforce planning the IMO said that future requirements need to take into account, predicted geographical changes in population age and structure and strategic requirements such as laid out in Sláintecare.
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