• IMO: All doctors who have finished training should be offered temporary consultant locum posts to help with lack of capacity
• No NCHD should be left without a post in this time of a manpower crisis
• ‘It is frankly unbelievable that the Government would allow any doctors to slip through the cracks when our healthcare needs are so acute’

The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) has called on the Government to ensure that no doctor is left without a placement either during or after the Covid-19 pandemic, after an IMO survey of  NCHDs (Non Consultant Hospital Doctors) emphasised the difficulty that some Doctors, particularly incoming senior house officers (SHOs), are having in securing a job.

Three-quarters (74%) of respondents who said they were having difficulty securing a job are incoming SHOs who are due to take up a post in July.

Speaking today, Dr. Paddy Hillery, Chair of the NCHD Committee of the IMO, said that this was an opportunity for the Government to enhance our medical workforce after years of substandard resourcing. “We are currently faced with lengthy waiting lists, far too few doctors in our health system and a potential second surge of Covid-19. The Government must firstly offer temporary consultant locum posts to all doctors who have finished training, and also ensure that no other NCHD is left without a placement to continue their training.

“With such an extreme shortage of doctors across the full spectrum of the health system, it is frankly unbelievable that the Government and Health Service Executive (HSE) would allow any doctor to slip through the cracks when our healthcare needs are so acute.”

Dr. Hillery said that this offer would also help existing NCHDs who are physically and mentally exhausted in light of Covid-19. “Doctors across all specialties have answered the country’s call during the Covid-19 pandemic, in many cases to the detriment of their own health as they worked particularly excessive hours for the past three months. A key part of dealing with a potential second surge of Covid-19 is retaining our existing staff and attracting additional staff so that we can build a resilient workforce.

“Ultimately, this is about patients benefiting from quality care, which will not happen if junior doctors are left in limbo, unable to work and made unemployed.”