Major research of new doctors announced by Medical Council

UCD’s School of Medicine has been appointed to speak directly to new and recent entrants to medical practice in Ireland to find out what education and training they would have benefitted from when they first began work in the Irish health system.

This information will then go on to inform the design of a registration support programme to be delivered by the Medical Council, which will be called Safe Start.

“Recent years have seen rising numbers of doctors entering the practice of medicine in Ireland for the first time,” said CEO of the Medical Council, Bill Prasifka.

“Entering practice in a new health system for the first time is clearly very challenging, even if you were educated here, and in our research, a number of doctors have highlighted deficits in induction which can lead to them feeling unprepared.

“While our role in induction is limited, it’s important that we use our regulatory remit to support doctors new to practice.”

A questionnaire will shortly be sent to over 4,000 doctors who recently entered medical practice in Ireland and the UCD medical education research team will also conduct face to face interviews with a sample of doctors to explore issues raised in detail.

“Every health system is different, and some of these differences, for example the way in which doctors relate to patients and their families or how they work with other healthcare professionals can be subtle but hugely important,” said Mr Prasifka.

“Doctors who are new to medical practice in Ireland must be given the necessary support which enables them to adapt to the culture within the working environment here in Ireland.