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.
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