14 July 2016:  Only 40% of medical students plan to stay and practice in the Irish healthcare system following their intern rotations, a new survey by the IMO reveals.   Over a third polled also say they are “unsure” as to whether they will stay or go.

Commenting on the results of the survey IMO President, Dr. John Duddy, Specialist Registrar in Neurosurgery said, “It is obvious from these findings that the reputation of the Irish healthcare system is in shreds amongst our interns.   Confidence is at an all-time low, so much so that without even having graduated from medical school they are already packing their bags for foreign shores and are ruling out Ireland as the place where they wish to practice.”

Dr. Duddy said that the IMO has extensively highlighted this serious issue “The legacy of successive Governments in failing to tackle the problems in our health service are effectively stamping the passports of our brightest young doctors and handing their talents and expertise to other countries.  If we allow this to continue and do not create a positive and progressive environment for doctors to pursue their careers the outcome will be detrimental to the future of healthcare in this country.   The result will be more pressure on the system, less doctors and ultimately more hardship for patients.”

Other results from the survey found that over half of interns surveyed are worried or unsure about their intern year.  A similar amount say they have a definite idea of the speciality they want to pursue following their intern year.

The survey was carried out amongst a sample of medical students who this week commenced their medical rotation in hospitals across the country.