Ireland

M.Cukelj — Fri, 14 Feb 2014 13:28:33 +0000

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

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?:

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)?:

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/

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

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. exa:

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?:

Continuous assessment by the supervising consultant

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?:

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:

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?:

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

Professional Recognition Process

Responsible Organisations:

Profesional Regulatory Body

Entity name:

Irish Medical Council

Contact Data:

General contact details:

Medical Council
Kingram House
Kingram Place
Dublin 2

Telephone +353 1 4983100 Fax +353 1 4983102
Email: info@mcirl.ie

Education & Training division
Telephone: +353 1 4983133
Email: educationandtraining@mcirl.ie

Requirements and Documents needed

Documents needed:

Eligibility is based on your stage of medical education and training.

Every practising doctor in Ireland must, by law, be registered with the Medical Council.

All doctors must submit a fully completed application, with full supporting documentation and the appropriate fee.

Delays in registration occur very often due to incomplete applications being submitted.
All applicants must provide details of their qualifications and verify that they have not been subject to disciplinary proceedings in any country where they previously practised - the criteria necessary for each Division is different.

Please read the guidelines very carefully.

Check what division you are eligible to register in

Once you have determined what division you think you might be eligible for, submit the relevant application form, photo, fee and required documentation for assessment and verification by the Medical Council.
Request all relevant competent authorities (registration/regulatory bodies) with whom you have been registered in the past five years to provide a Certificate of Good Standing / Certificate of Current Professional Status directly to the Medical Council.

Once the Medical Council is satisfied that all required documentation has been received and it has verified the documentation, a decision will be made on your application.

Directive 2005/36/EC Applicability:

Ireland is moving towards full compliance with the Directive in relation to junior doctors working hours.

We expect to be in full compliance by the end of 2014.

Other Requirements:

If you are required to pass the Pre-Registration Examination System(PRES), you will be informed how to enrol for the examination.
Click to see whether you are exempt from PRES.

Deadlines and Duration

Deadlines:

Graduates of a medical school in a third country (outside EU/EEA/Switzerland) and qualification listed in WHO/IMED) and may be eligible to apply for General Registration and Trainee Specialist Registration.

Please note that the registration year runs from 1st July to 30th June.

If you are deemed eligible, you will be required to pay the appropriate registration fee prior to being registered.

If a doctor is registered during the registration year, they are required to pay a retention fee on or before the following 1st July.

Re-certification required:

No.

Re-certification Information:

None.

Internship

Internship required?:

yes

How long does it last and what are the conditions to start with it and to finish it?:

In Ireland, an internship lasts a minimum of 12 months.

During this time, you will spend a minimum of three months working in general medicine, and a minimum of three months working in general surgery.

The remainder of your internship will be spent working in a combination of specialist rotations in areas such as paediatrics and anaesthesia.

During your internship, you will complete your rotations across a number of different training sites, which may mean moving between hospitals and other clinical sites after two, three or four months, depending on your intern training post.

Each training post is made up of a number of rotations, and is constructed in such a way that you will gain the necessary training experience as defined by us in our intern standards and guidelines.

Is it required to start with postgraduate medical training?:

Doctors who successfully complete an internship in Ireland are entitled to receive a document known as a Certificate of Experience . A Certificate of Experience is required in order to continue in structured medical training in Ireland, and in most other jurisdictions. A Certificate of Experience, when combined with your medical degree, entitles you to automatic registration in EU/EEA countries.

What is the procedure for a foreign doctor to start with it?:

To maximise your future training and employment opportunities, it is important that you complete an internship which is recognised to be of a high standard.

For the purposes of registering to practise medicine in Ireland, and depending on the type of registration which you are applying for (eg. trainee specialist), you must have completed your training in a country whose own intern training standards are recognised as equivalent to those in Ireland.

Postgraduate Medical Training

Responsible Organisations:

Postgraduate Training Bodies:

The thirteen postgraduate training bodies are each responsible for the delivery of specialist training in Ireland, and are accountable to the Medical Council.

The Irish Medical Council sets and monitors the standards which must be met by the bodies themselves, and by each programme of specialist training.

Entity name:

Irish Medical Council

Selection and Deadlines:

No deadlines.

Selection Process Description:

Those who completed their medical degree outside Ireland will be required to meet the necessary registration requirements to pursue specialist training in the first instance.

They will also be required to apply for a place on a programme of specialist training, entry to which is competitive. They should refer to the individual websites of the 13 recognised training bodies, listed above, for further details on programmes and entry requirements.

The training bodies will also be able to clarify the work visa requirements for non-EU applicants.

Application Deadlines:

No deadlines.

Is allowed.

Funding of PGT (government-funded/funded by tax/included in healthcare insurance, etc.):

Government funded. Non EU/EEA students subject to fees.

Scientific Associations:

1) Medical Council (https://www.medicalcouncil.ie/)

The Medical Council regulates medical doctors in the Republic of Ireland. The Council's purpose is to protect the public by promoting and better ensuring high standards of professional conduct and professional education, training and competence among doctors.

The Medical Council's key responsibilities include:

1) Maintaining the "Register of Medical Practitioners", check if your doctor is registered to legally work in Ireland.

2) Ensuring the highest standards of medical training and education in the Republic of Ireland.

3) Promoting good medical practice and overseeing doctors' continuing professional development. Learn more about Medical Council approved training.

4) Investigating complaints against medical doctors.

2) The Health Information and Quality Authority (http://www.hiqa.ie/ ) (HIQA)

The Health Information and Quality Authority is the independent Authority established to drive continuous improvement in Ireland’s health and social care services.

Reporting directly to the Minister for Health, its role is to promote quality and safety in the provision of health and personal social services for the benefit of the health and welfare of the public.

Its mandate extends across the quality and safety of the public, private and voluntary sectors. It also has statutory responsibility for: Setting Standards for Health and Social Services, Monitoring Healthcare Quality, Health Technology Assessment, Health Information and Social Services Inspectorate.

3) Irish Medical Organisation (http://www.imo.ie/ )

The role of the IMO is to represent doctors in Ireland and to provide them with all relevant services.

Existent Medical Degrees

Medical Degrees:

From the following Universities:

- National University of Ireland, Galway
- Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
- Trinity College Dublin
- University College Cork
- Universtiy College Dublin
- University of Limerick

Working Conditions

Salary Gross/Brutto (basic, no oncalls included, in EUR):

Intern: €30,257 1st Year Senior House Officer: €34,955 1st Year Registrar: €45,520 1st Year Specialist Registrar: €54,346

Used taxation scales, and (if known) average taxation percentage applied to salary:

If effective salary for year is:

Intern = €30,257 Net Salary = +/- €24,859

1st Year Senior House Officer = €34,955 Net Salary = +/- € 27,648

1st Year Registrar = €45,520 Net Salary = +/- € 32,928

1st Year Senior Registrar = €58,812 Net Salary = +/- € 39,099

1st Year Specialist Registrar = €54,346 Net Salary= +/- € 36,955

Paid Overtime:

yes

Type of Contracts:

6 month and 12 month.

Sick Leave:

yes

Sick leave info:

If the absence exceeds two continuous days, a medical certificate must be submitted to the Employer on the third day.

Paid vacation:

yes

Vacation info:

NCHDs are entitled to 16 calendar days leave per 6 month period. Calendar days are inclusive of weekends, hence if a doctor takes a full weeks annual leave, it equates to 7 calendar days. Payment of notional hours while on annual leave will be paid on the basis of average approved rostered hours over a reference period of 13 weeks.

Public holidays shall be granted in accordance with the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. In respect of each public holiday the NCHD will receive one of the following (as the Employer may decide):

• An NCHD who normally works Monday – Friday and who has their public holidays off, is not entitled to an additional day off in lieu of the public holiday. Above answer.

• An NCHD who is rostered for duty on the day on which a public holiday falls is entitled to single time extra remuneration in respect of hours worked on this day.

• NCHDs who work a ‘5 over 7’ roster are entitled to a total of 9 working days (7.8 hours per day) in lieu of the liability to be rostered on a public holiday.

In terms of the practical implementation of this entitlement, 4 days fall due in respect of the period from the second Monday in January to the second Monday in July and 5 days apply in respect of the period from the second Monday in July to the second Monday in January.

Social security system like unemployment benefits:

If you are an employee, your employer makes Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) deductions from your earnings each week.

These PRSI contributions to the Social Insurance Fund can help you to qualify for social insurance payments, such as Jobseeker's Benefit and State Pension (Contributory).

Type of healthcare – healthcare for free National health system or Health Insurance:

Both sytems of healthcare are currently in place.

Other Information

Training Center Acreditation:

Given by the Medical Council

Acceptance of foreign trainees for short term:

Currently medics who move to Ireland from another EU-EEA country have automatic recognition of their qualifications.

Other doctors may have to complete a pre-registration exam, depending on their country of origin.

All doctors have to go through a Medical Council level one assessment where their previous work experience, their training and education and their record with a foreign regulatory authority is examined.

Mandatory Insurance required (for malpractice):

Who is responsible for the damage immaterial and material:

The doctor is responsible for damage and for taking out insurance

Who is giving the doctor legal aid (a lawyer) if he is sued and who is paying for that?:

The doctor must pay for his own legal fees. Clinical indemnity provider

Perspective towards migration of Healthcare Professionals and additional information:

There are 3 types of division transfers applicable to currently registered medical practitioners.

Please refer to links below for further information on each type.

• Trainee Specialist to General Division

• General to Trainee Specialist Division

• Trainee Specialist or General to Specialist Division

Organisations which can provide legal help:

Clinical indemnity providers

Updating of information

Last date this information was checked:

07.02.2014

Person providing the data and contact (must include e-mail adress):

Edward Dore.

e-mail: edore@imo.ie

Medical Mobility

Ireland