Dr. Matthew Sadlier:

One of the tragedies of the past ten years of the health service, since the 30% consultant pay cut was introduced, was that 52% of interns, on completing their intern year, would emigrate. We now have an historic opportunity, largely due to restrictions on travel and on countries bringing people in, to retain our interns in July of this year and to increase our medical workforce. As Ms Clyne said, this is an historic opportunity where, as people are coming off their training schemes and getting their specialist qualifications, we can hold them in the country. Interns will have to stay in the country. This is an opportunity where we will not only expand the workforce but also have the expertise that will fill that expansion.