Up to 40% of final-year interns set to emigrate

A SENIOR HSE official has admitted that about 40 per cent of the 102 final-year intern doctors in the HSE West area will emigrate after graduating.

In a circular to members of the HSE West Forum, regional co-ordinator of acute services Chris Kane said the final year interns were not remaining here because “the working hours abroad are better with better support and training opportunities”.

She said: “Many Irish graduates are not attracted to working in smaller hospitals with poor rotas and rosters which have excessive hours of work. In smaller hospitals it is perceived that there is inadequate training and exposure to a complex variety of work. There is poor supervision and an imbalance between trainee and consultant.

“The countries of choice are Australia, New Zealand and to a lesser extent the US and Canada. Australia and New Zealand are attractive as no exams are required to register in these countries where there is a plentiful supply of work. In addition to working for six months, a lot of doctors travel, particularly in South America, Asia and India.”

In response to a question by HSE West forum member, Cllr John Carroll (FF), Ms Kane said: “A high percentage return following a year or two away. In some cases, we offer posts to doctors who defer them for a year to allow them travel and then return the following year to Galway.”

Fianna Fáil health spokesman Billy Kelleher called yesterday for a review of medical education in its entirety.“There needs to be a clear career pathway for these graduate doctors and that they are not seen as just the workhorses of the medical system, but are treated with dignity and respect and work reasonable hours.”

Mr Kelleher said it was important there was movement of doctors in and out of Ireland for skill sets to be developed, “but as long as we don’t lose crops of medical graduates in the process”.

Dublin-based non-consultant hospital doctor Dr Anthony O’Connor said Ms Kane’s comments were very welcome.“If the HSE knows what the problems are, why are they not going ahead to address them?” he asked.

HSE West Forum member Cllr Brian Meaney (Green) said: “Ms Kane’s stark, open and honest admission on how it is easier for junior doctors to get better terms and conditions abroad is welcome. It is now up to the HSE to put measures in place to retain the expertise of these doctors as the State spends large amounts of money to train them.”