Joint Committee on Health to meet for engagement on consultants and non-consultant hospital doctors in public hospitals

The Committee will hear from representatives from the Irish Medical Organisation.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Seán Crowe said “the recruitment and retention of consultant and non-consultant hospital doctors is a key issue in the ability of the health service to meet the ever-growing needs of the population. Having arrangements that release the greatest potential from our doctors in the public health system is also crucial.

We have seen that there has been a significant increase in the number of consultant and non-consultant doctors employed by the HSE, due among other things to the new consultant contract*. However, it appears that much more needs to be done in relation to the employment and retention of doctors, and in providing the structures and conditions that maximise the quality and quantity of the services that the doctors can deliver through the public health system.

The Committee looks forward to tomorrow’s meeting as an important opportunity to hear from doctors themselves about the obstacles they see for their profession and how they are having an impact on the public health service.

* The report on the latest national health trends also showed Ireland currently ranking 12th among 29 OECD countries regarding the number of practising doctors per 1,000 of the population, with Austria top of the list followed by Norway, Germany and Spain.

The meeting in Committee Room 2 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.