Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
2010. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the Medical Council’s medical workforce intelligence report; his views on same; if he intends to establish a taskforce to explore and plan the doctor workforce strategy; the steps that he is taking to address workforce issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44069/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Minister for Health welcomed the publication by the Medical Council of its 2021 Workforce Intelligence Report. The State, in delegating authority to the Medical Council to regulate doctors in Ireland is uniquely aware of the value of the data available to the Council through its registration systems. The Minister and his Department share the concerns raised in the report and are acutely aware of the myriad of complex issues that are at play, including attrition resulting from lack of access to training, the growth of the General Division and an over reliance on Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors.
In recent times, the Department has embarked on a broad programme of legislative reform, which includes addressing certain registration and access issues identified by the Medical Council and has worked in partnership with the Council to deliver these reforms. The Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Act 2020, for example, removed the legislative barrier which prevented doctors who trained outside the EEA from applying for specialist training in Ireland. This has been a welcome and positive development which recognises that the Irish Health Service is supported by highly skilled and caring doctors from across the world. The Department will continue to drive regulatory and legislative change to address issues identified by the Medical Council.
The Deputy will be pleased to hear that I am establishing a National Taskforce on the NCHD Workforce, to put in place sustainable workforce planning strategies and policies to support the present and future NCHD workforce in Ireland. NCHDs are a critical part of our health service. The National Taskforce will seek to improve the NCHD experience/work-life balance through the development and implementation of improved NCHD structures and supports in hospital sites. It will seek to develop and foster a culture of education and training at clinical site level and plan for future configuration of the medical workforce to support delivery of healthcare in Ireland.
The Department will work closely with key stakeholders, including the Medical Council, to successfully support the NCHD workforce and to inform medical workforce planning into the future. The findings of the Medical Council’s Medical Workforce Intelligence Report 2021 will from an important part of this work.
