Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I welcome our guests and thank them for the work they are doing. Their work is very important. The committee has spoken several times about the fact that it is all very well to speak about a reform programme and making funding available but if we cannot retain staff, the health service will continue to deteriorate. The frustration the witnesses have spoken about is particularly pertinent given that we are speaking about very bright and highly qualified and trained people doing very responsible jobs for which they have spent huge amounts of time training, and that training is very expensive. Then they find themselves in situations that are utterly frustrating. The most frustrating situation for people to be in job-wise is where they are doing a very responsible job but they do not have control. It seems to be like this for many of our hospital doctors. The committee should take this up in a very serious way with regard to policy and pursue it with the Minister. I raised it in the Dáil recently. The Minister did not seem to be aware of the project but certainly wanted details on it. We have a role in pursuing this.

I would like to identify what exactly are the roadblocks to successful careers for doctors. Are we speaking about two separate areas of difficulty? The first is general administration in a hospital and basic issues such as not being paid for overtime, not being rostered properly and not having the necessary supports. The second is whether there also internal problems in the career structure. Dr. Creese spoke about a hierarchical system that is very difficult. Junior doctors are dependent on their seniors for good references. Will the witnesses speak about these two elements? Are there problems clinically and career-wise and in the administration of hospitals?