Ireland

Part One

| Professional recognition in your country

1.1. Which organisation recognises doctors eligible to practice in your country?

In case your country has more then one organisation which can provide professional recognition, please attach to this survey a simple list of names and websites where we can acquire more information.

NAME: Medical Council

TYPE OF ORGANISATION (PROFESSIONAL, GOVERNMENT, ETC.) TRADE UNION AND PROFESSIONAL ORGANISATION: Competent authority/ regulatory body
ADDRESS:
Medical Council
Kingram House
Kingram Place
Dublin 2
D02 XY88
PHONE NUMBER: +353 1 4983100

FAX:

CONTACT PERSON:

E-MAIL: https://www.medicalcouncil.ie/Contact-Details/Registration-Contact/

WEBSITE (S): www.medicalcouncil.ie

1.2. What requirements/documents are necessary for a foreign doctor to practice medicine?

i.e. language skills, medical degree, insurance, immigration status.

Requirements for registration for EU/EEA doctors depend on which division of the register a doctor is applying to.

Broadly the documentation required for EU/EEA/Swiss applicants to the trainee specialist or general division of the register is as follows:
• Relevant Application Form
• Application Fee
• Notarised attested copy of passport
• Notarised copy of basic (primary) medical degree
• Notarised copy of Certificate of Experience (Internship) or recognised equivalent
• You may be required to pass the PRES ( Pre-Registration Examination System)
• Certificate of Current Professional Status/Certificate of Good Standing or sworn declaration of unregistered practice or absence from clinical practice (as applicable)
• Evidence of Effective Communication Skills
o Satisfactory score on IELTS, or completion of training in English-speaking country
• For entry onto the trainee specialist division you must be accepted onto an individually numbered identifiable training post
• Professional indemnity cover (this is provided in public employment roles, however Doctors in private practice/locums are required to put in place minimum indemnity cover)
• Other documentation may be required appropriate to the applicant’s circumstances

Broadly the documentation required for EU/EEA/Swiss applicants to the specialist division of the register is as follows:

• Relevant Application Form
• Application Fee
• Notarised attested copy of passport
• Notarised copy of basic (primary) medical degree
• Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training/or Certificate of acquired Rights in accordance with Directive 2005/36/EC accompanied by an attestation from the relevant competent authority
• Certificate of Current Professional Status/Certificate of Good Standing or sworn declaration of unregistered practice or absence from clinical practice (as applicable)
• Evidence of Effective Communication Skills
o Satisfactory score on IELTS, or completion of training in English-speaking country
• Professional indemnity cover (this is provided in public employment roles, however Doctors in private practice/locums are required to put in place minimum indemnity cover)
• Other documentation may be required appropriate to the applicant’s circumstances

Where else can we find more information? www.medicalcouncil.ie

1.3. Are there any application deadlines (if so, when)?

Furthermore, how long does the professional recognition procedure usually take?

There is no deadline for first application. The registration year runs from July to June and registration must be renewed on an annual basis.

Where else can we find more information?

www.medicalcouncil.ie

1.4. Are there any sort of examinations/interviews to apply for Medical Professional Recognition?

If you do not have a Certificate of Experience (Internship) or recognised equivalent you may be required to pass the P RES (Pre-Registration Examination System)

If your post graduate qualification is not automatically recognised under the EU Directive 2005/36/EC your qualification may be assessed by the relevant post graduate training body.
Where else can we find more information?

www.medicalcouncil.ie

1.5.1. What kind of professional medical degrees are there in your country?

Bachelor in Medicine and Bachelor in Surgery

Where else can we find more information? https://www.medicalcouncil.ie/Education/

1.5.2. How do you access each degree?

EU residents must apply to one of the medical schools through the CAO (Central Applications Office) and must pass the HPAT (Health Professionals Assessment Test)
Non EU/EEA citizens can also apply through the individual medical schools.
Where else can we find more information?

https://www.medicalcouncil.ie/Education/Career-Stage-School-Students/Ent...

www.cao.ie

https://hpat-ireland.acer.org/

Part Two

| Training in your country

2.1. Which organisation is responsible for medical training in your country?

In case your country has more than one organisation with this function, please attach to this survey a simple list of names and websites where we can acquire more information.

The Postgraduate training bodies are responsible for the delivery of medical training and are overseen by the Medical Council.
College of Anaesthetists of Ireland
College of Psychiatrists of Ireland
Faculty of Occupational Medicine
Faculty of Paediatrics
Faculty of Pathology
Faculty of Public Health Medicine
Faculty of Radiologists
Faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicine
Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Irish College of General Practitioners
Irish College of Ophthalmologists
Irish Committee for Higher Medical Training
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
More information can also be found on the Medical Council website at: https://www.medicalcouncil.ie/Education/Speciality-Options/

2.2. Besides professional recognition, is there any other requirement for a doctor to start his training/begin to work (i.e. examination, clerkship, internship)? Namely, which documents/examinations are necessary when applying for training/job?

In addition to their primary medical degree a doctor must have a recognised Certificate of Experience (Internship) before s/he can apply for a training position.

2.2.1. Where are training positions advertised?

Training positions are advertised through the HSE and post graduate training bodies.
Where else can we find more information?

http://www.medicalcareers.ie/

2.3. Are there any application deadlines (if so, which)?

Deadlines for application vary according to the Post Graduate Training Body.

2.4. How do applicants choose what and where they would like to train?

Applicants can state their preferences for where they would like to train on the application form for a post graduate training scheme.

2.5. Is there a fee/tuition for attending a training programme?

2.6. Do trainees receive a salary during training?

Yes

2.6.1. Moreover, what is the current salary and is overtime paid?

The basic starting salary for NCHDs is between €36,492.31 and €65,143 depending on the grade and excluding overtime and premium payments

Overtime is paid after the first 39 hours per week.

2.6.2. What type of contracts are there? How long are the working and on-calls times?

There is one NCHD contract for all non-consultant hospital doctors employed in training positions or in public hospitals. The standard working week is 39 hours per week but most NCHDs would work in excess of this. The level of hours would vary based on specialty and location. The maximum single shift is 24 hours which is complied with to a greater or less extent dependent on location, and there is an on-going push to ensure all NCHDs do not work in excess of 48 hours weekly maximum as provided under the EWTD.

2.6.3. Are sick leave, vacation days, maternity leave, voluntary work allowed and do they entail a reduction of salary?

Sick leave, vacation days, maternity leave are paid in accordance with the NCHD contract. Voluntary work may entail a reduction in salary.

2.7. In general terms, how is the training assessment done?

i.e. exams, evaluations, interviews, appraisal

Continuous assessment by the supervising consultant

Part Three

| Other details about training/working in your country

3.1. Is mobility possible inside and outside the country during your training?

For the duration of training, doctors rotate between different clinical sites. These ‘rotations’ will generally be of a duration of between three months and one year.

A number of trainees take up research, clinical or HSE scholarships/fellowships posts abroad.

3.2. How many trainees are there in your country?

Divided, if possible, by in each speciality.

In 2017-2018 there were 1554 trainees in Initial Specialist Training (IST) broken down as follows:
• General Internal Medicine   501
• General Practice     347
• Psychiatry      233
• General Surgery    117
• Anaesthesia       83
• Obstetrics & Gynaecology    79
• Paediatrics     78
• Emergency Medicine    73
• Opthalmology     24
• Histopathology    18
• Common stem/ radiology/EM/Surgery 1

In 2017-2018 there were 1694 trainees in Higher Specialist Training (HST) broken down as follows:

• Anaesthesia       151
• Emergency Medicine    42
• General Practice     362
• Medicine     358
• Obstetrics & Gynaecology    80
• Occupational Medicine   9
• Paediatrics     124
• Pathology     91
• Psychiatry      104
• Public Health Medicine   33
• Radiology     108
• Surgery     233

Where else can we find more information?
Details by subspecialty can be found at the HSE National Doctors Training and Planning
https://www.hse.ie/eng/staff/leadership-education-development/met/ed/rep/

3.4. Is there an accreditation procedure for training centres (and do they include visitations)?

Yes training centres are accredited by the Medical Council and training sites are inspected by Medical Council assessors.

3.5. Is there any national recertification/revalidation scheme to practice?

Doctors not participating in a training scheme are required to enrol in a professional competence scheme relevant to their specialty and are required to undertake one clinical audit and accrue 50 CPD credits.

3.6. Are there any differences in the application procedure according to the country of origin of a trainee?

The application procedure is the same for all EU/EEA/Swiss applicants.

3.7.1. Are there any restrictions for a foreign doctor who is undergoing training in your country to work there afterwards?

None, other than those which are applied to all other foreign nationals working in Ireland

3.8. Please summarise the general timeline between the time where a doctor has just graduated until he has attained a final senior post as an independent medical doctor.

In other words, please describe, in general terms, the training of a junior doctor in your country.

This depends on the specialty, 1 year internship, 2-4 years initial specialist training, and 4-6 years of higher specialist training. After internship doctors may apply for direct access to a GP trainee scheme (4 years).

Where else can we find more information?

https://www.medicalcouncil.ie/Education/

3.9. Is it compulsory to have malpractice (or any other) insurance?

If you work in private practice you are required to have a minimum level of clinical indemnity cover.

3.10. What is the general perspective/position on immigration of medical trainees to your country?

Despite producing the highest number of medical graduates in the OECD, Ireland has a growing dependency on foreign trained doctors. In particular large numbers on non- EU/EEA doctors have been employed to fill service posts. Research shows that many non EU/EEA doctors come to Ireland in search of training and career opportunities but move on within a number of years, their hopes unrealized.

3.11. What is the general perspective/position on emigration of medical trainees to foreign countries?

There are significant recruitment and retention issues in the Irish health system and many newly qualified doctors are emigrating to other English speaking jurisdictions in search of better pay and working conditions.

3.12. Are there any restrictions in your country to comply with the consolidated version of EU 2005/36?

3.13. Which organisation(s) specialise in assisting doctors in legal and work matters?

i.e. trade unions, medical chambers, other organizations.

The Irish Medical Organisation is the trade union and representative body for doctors in Ireland and can aid with employment matters.
www.imo.ie