Written answers

Tuesday, 24 March 2015

Department of Health

Medical Qualifications

Photo of Robert DowdsRobert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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654. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the current situation that so many of our current medical students are going abroad to work after graduating; and his plans to encourage them to stay here in Ireland [11714/15]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The recruitment and retention of doctors at all levels, from medical student to specialist, is key to the effective functioning of the health service. In this context, the implementation of the recommendations of the Strategic Review of Medical Training and Career Structure is a priority for my Department.

In July 2013, a Working Group, chaired by Prof. Brian MacCraith, President, Dublin City University, was established to carry out the Strategic Review. The Working Group was tasked with examining and making high-level recommendations relating to training and career pathways for doctors with a view to:

- Improving graduate retention in the public health system;

- Planning for future service needs;

- Realising maximum benefit from investment in medical education and training.

The Working Group completed its work in June 2014 and, in all, submitted three reports and made 25 recommendations. The reports address a range of barriers and issues relating to the recruitment and retention of doctors in the Irish public health system.

The Strategic Review recommendations are being implemented through a range of structures and processes across the health system. Each recommendation has an identified business owner and progress updates are sought by my Department on a regular basis. To support implementation of the recommendations, my Department has also established an Implementation Monitoring Group, comprising key stakeholders including trainee doctors. This will help drive implementation across the system and embed the recommendations in the day-to-day business practice of the health system.

The first six-monthly progress report on the implementation of the recommendations was published on 5th March last on my Department' s website. The next report will be finalised and published this summer so that all stakeholders, in particular trainee doctors, can assess the progress being made across the range of Strategic Review recommendations.

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