Latest news with #MedicalCouncil
RTÉ News
a day ago
- Health
- RTÉ News
Nearly 25% of doctors work over 48 hours a week
Almost a quarter of doctors have said they are working more than 48 hours a week, according to a Medical Council report. The Medical Workforce Intelligence Report 2024 found doctors working in surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology were most likely to work over 48 hours a week. Around 45% of those who self-reported to work over 48 hours said they were working in direct patient care. The report also said around one quarter, 26.1%, of doctors reported experiencing difficulty providing a patient with sufficient care at least once a week or more, while over one-third, 33.6%, reported never experiencing difficulty. Almost three-quarters, 73.0%, said "pressure on workloads" was the greatest barrier to providing a patient with sufficient care at least once a week or more. The report found there were 20,962 clinically active doctors working in the State in 2024 and said 78.8% of doctors retained their place on the Medical Council Register last year. It said the mean age of doctors was 43.7 years old and over 20% were 55 and older. Over 11,000 of doctors in the State were male (52.8%) and over 9,900 were female (47.2%). Almost half of doctors worked in either general practice (25.9%) and medicine (23.4%). The third largest discipline was surgery, which the report said represented 11.9% of clinically active doctors. Almost 8,990 doctors were based in Dublin, representing 42.9% of the total number, and just 34 doctors in Leitrim, representing 0.2% of the total number. The report found that 27.8% of doctors in the State have an "international basic medical qualification" from outside Ireland, the EU and the UK. This is up from 25.7% in 2023 and 23.3% in 2022. It said almost 40% of doctors with an international qualification received it from Pakistan and 21.3% have a qualification from Sudan. Commenting on the report, CEO of the Medical Council Dr Maria O'Kane said it has seen a "phenomenal increase" in the number of doctors joining the Medical Council Register in recent years. However, she added: "Despite there being over 30,000 doctors on the register at the end of 2024, our research today shows that only 20,692 doctors report being clinically active in Ireland in the same year." Dr O'Kane said last month's report on General Practice in Ireland"aligns strongly" with the Medical Council's data and it "shares the same views on the urgent need for strategic, sustainable investment in training, recruitment, and retention – for GPs and other doctors alike".
The Journal
a day ago
- Health
- The Journal
One in four Irish doctors working over 48 hours a week, as hundreds left to work abroad in 2024
A QUARTER OF Irish doctors are working in excess of 48 hours a week, a report from the Irish Medical Council has found, while over 1000 voluntarily withdrew from the register last year, with most going to work abroad. Of the doctors who were working over 48 hours a week in 2024, just under half reported that they were working in direct patient care for over 48 hours a week. A quarter also said they have found it difficult to provide a patient with proper care at least once a week. The report from the Medical Council, published today, found that the Irish medical workforce is increasingly made up of doctors who obtained qualifications internationally, yet doctors from abroad are in some cases finding difficulty securing jobs here. The council found that there were only 20,962 practising doctors in the Republic in 2024, despite there being over 30,000 doctors on the medical register. The Medical Council has said that the findings highlight an 'urgent' need for strategic, sustainable investment in training, recruitment, and retention.' The study also found that 27.8% of Ireland's 20,962 clinically active doctors working in the Republic have an international qualification (meaning that they trained outside of Ireland, the EU, and the UK). Most of the internationally trained doctors got their qualifications in Pakistan (39.7%) follows by Sudan (21.3%). 1025 doctors voluntarily withdrew from theregister last year, with over 600 leaving to practice in another country. Advertisement Of that cohort, 352 obtained their qualifications in Ireland, whereas 172 trained in the EU of the UK, and 501 were international graduates from other countries. The majority who withdrew were general doctors, while 255 were specialists and 29 were trainee specialists. 149 doctors withdrew from the register because they wanted to stop practising medicine altogether. Many doctors reported travelling to the UK to obtain their specialist training there, with one doctor saying there is 'no career progression' in Ireland. Several international doctors reported difficulties in finding employment once they had come to Ireland and registered with the council here. Another said: 'I had been waiting to get a job in Ireland for the past 1.5 years, however I failed to secure a job or even land an interview. Other doctors discussed their experiences of deciding to move abroad for work. 'Pay is low, specialty understaffed, hours too long, I am burnt out. I have moved to Australia,' one doctor said. The report found that 12.9% of doctors said they are likely to consider reducing their hours in clinical practice. Jantze Cotter of the Medical Council said that retaining doctors in Ireland 'remains a challenge', and that doctors are in some cases working excessive hours, which can have a real impact on patient outcomes. Cotter said that working hours beyond what is set out as the limit by the European Working Time Directive contributes to 'stress, burnout and absenteeism'. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Scoop
6 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
Guidelines Released For Prescribing Psilocybin
Associate Minister of Health Associate Health Minister David Seymour is welcoming steps to provide medical practitioners with more tools to treat people with depression, with Medsafe publishing guidelines for experts wanting to prescribe Psilocybin. 'This is huge for people with depression who've tried everything else and are still suffering. If a doctor believes psilocybin can help, they should have the opportunity to do what's best for their patient,' says Mr Seymour. 'Recent changes have put New Zealand's settings in line with Australia, where authorised prescribers have been using psilocybin in clinical settings for some time. 'Psilocybin remains an unapproved medicine, but one highly experienced psychiatrist has already been granted authority to prescribe it to patients with treatment-resistant depression. 'This is excellent news for their patients, but there are other Kiwis in need in different parts of New Zealand who might have an appropriate practitioner nearby. 'Practitioners must meet a series of requirements to gain approval, including being registered with the Medical Council with a current practicing certificate, a good understanding and experience of the medicines and the psychotherapeutic processes involved in psychedelic-assisted therapy, and a detailed proposal of how they will administer the treatment that has been peer reviewed and will be considered by Medsafe. 'Soon more practitioners will have the ability to use this medicine, meaning more patients will benefit.'
Scoop
17-07-2025
- Health
- Scoop
ProCare Welcomes Fast-Tracked Registration For Overseas Doctors
ProCare welcomes the Medical Council's decision to recognise overseas-trained doctors from Chile, Croatia, and Luxembourg as part of the 'Comparable Health System pathway'. Alongside the fast-track registration for GPs from the USA, Canada, and Singapore, this will deliver a much-needed boost to general practices across Aotearoa who are facing a significant GP shortage. The decision means ProCare will be better placed to support its primary care network to recruit offshore GPs; further helping to ease workforce pressure and improve access to care for communities. Bindi Norwell, Chief Executive at ProCare, says the organisation is ready to support practices to take full advantage of the change. 'We know our practices are under pressure and this change gives us a practical way to bring in skilled clinicians faster,' says Norwell. Under the changes, GPs from the United States, Canada and Singapore will have their registration applications processed within two months, while specialists from countries such as the UK, Ireland and Australia will benefit from a fast-tracked 20-day assessment process. Japan and South Korea were added to the list in February 2025. 'At ProCare, we are deeply committed to investing in the primary care workforce. We've long advocated for practical solutions that support our network and improve health outcomes for our communities. This announcement aligns with that vision.' Earlier this month, ProCare became an Immigration NZ Accredited Employer, allowing it to directly support practices with international recruitment and immigration processes. 'We're actively investing in solutions for primary care that make a difference,' says Norwell. 'Our investment includes tailored support for general practice teams, leadership development, and tools to improve retention and resilience. We're committed to building a strong, sustainable workforce that delivers better health outcomes for all New Zealanders.' ProCare will continue working closely with its network and partners to ensure overseas-trained doctors are welcomed, supported, and integrated into the communities where they're needed most. About ProCare ProCare is a leading healthcare provider that aims to deliver the most progressive, pro-active and equitable health and wellbeing services in Aotearoa. We do this through our clinical support services, mental health and wellness services, virtual/tele health, mobile health, smoking cessation and by taking a population health and equity approach to our mahi. As New Zealand's largest Primary Health Organisation, we represent a network of general practice teams and healthcare professionals who provide care to more than 830,000 people across Auckland and Northland. These practices serve the largest Pacific and South Asian populations enrolled in general practice and the largest Māori population in Tāmaki Makaurau.
Irish Times
16-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
Doctor who ‘repeated mantra-like claims in court of Garda surveillance' is suspended
The president of the High Court has suspended a doctor from practising over concerns about his mental health, his 'unusual behaviour' and complaints about his clinical practice. Mr Justice David Barniville said he was very concerned about the man's mental health after witnessing him in court. This included, the judge said, 'repeated, constant and almost mantra-like references' to being under surveillance by the gardaí since around 2010 and repeated references to the woman Garda detective allegedly involved in the surveillance and who, in view of the doctor, was constantly involved in actions intended to damage him. The judge was satisfied the Medical Council had legitimate and reasonable concerns for the public if the doctor, who qualified in Pakistan and has practised in Ireland for 35 years, was permitted to continue to practice. READ MORE The suspension applies pending the doctor's completion of certain supervisory and medical requirements and pending further court order. He has rejected all the claims made against him and says there has been a conspiracy against him by his former wife, the detective garda and others. A psychiatrist assessed him as suffering from a 'relevant medical disability' that was a 'persistent delusional disorder of persecutory type'. The psychiatrist believed that as the doctor's medical disability had not affected, to date, his fitness to work, he should be allowed to continue to work under conditions including supportive health services. The doctor has refused to accept the psychiatrist's opinion and was not so far prepared to agree to the conditions, the judge said. In those circumstances, Mr Justice Barniville granted an order sought by the Medical Council suspending the doctor. The judge said the case arose after the directors of an out-of-hours general practitioner service, which the doctor worked at for a number of years until October 2024, contacted the Medical Council over his conduct. Difficulties included his interactions with patients, their carers and, at times, members of staff at the GP service. They referred to 'significant difficulties and challenges' in his life including a separation. He had claimed 'undercover gardaí [were] observing him' from within the service. Most complaints against him related to his poor manner in consultations, a peremptory approach to those for whom he was caring and an approach that 'intermittently appears clinically inadequate', particularly in relation to gynaecological issues. It was also alleged his notes were 'scant' and that evidence of reasonable examination was 'very limited'. There were two significant 'near misses' involving him, it was claimed. The doctor denied all those claims and said the psychiatrist's report should be rejected. The directors of the GP service did not want to make a complaint, but wanted it brought to the attention of the chief executive of the Medical Council, which itself decided to initiate the complaint processes. The judge also said the doctor alleged the garda detective was trying to prevent the Central Office of the High Court from issuing the proceedings he wanted to bring alleging the garda did various other things to damage him. The judge said it would not be appropriate for him on a suspension application to resolve conflicts of evidence or to make findings of fact. However, the doctor's refusal to accept there may be a problem and that his registration should be subject to conditions was sufficient to persuade the judge to make the suspension order, pending further court order.
