Trainee surgeons will not apply for new consultant positions

NONE of the country’s trainee surgeons intend to apply for hospital consultant posts advertised last week, according to the college responsible for training them.

Yesterday the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) took the unprecedented step of issuing a statement criticising the decision to advertise the new posts in the absence of an agreed contract of employment between health service employers and consultant representatives. Negotiations to agree a new contract stalled 10 days ago.

The college does not normally comment publicly on industrial relations issues.

Last night Professor Arthur Tanner, director of surgical affairs at the RCSI, said there was “a strong likelihood” that the Public Appointments Service (PAS) would be asked to recruit the 68 new consultants and that they would “have to reduce the standards to attract people in”.

Prof Tanner said the RCSI believed all hospital consultants should have — as a minimum criterion to apply for the new posts — specialist registration. “This reassures the public that someone has trained to a level acceptable to the Medical Council. If someone comes in under this level, it will reduce the calibre of surgeon,” Prof Tanner said. For someone to apply for a consultant post, they must meet one of two criteria: either be on the specialist register or have eight years experience in a speciality.

However, Prof Tanner said because consultants have decided not to take part in interview panels to recruit to the new posts as part of the dispute with employers, this could lower the bar in terms of what were acceptable qualifications among candidates.

“You could be working in a small hospital for eight years in a speciality where you receive little or no training. That person can apply for a job in the current situation. It is possible that a substandard person could be appointed without the failsafe mechanism we have had in the past of people on interview boards who know who to assess someone’s training.”

Prof Tanner said in the absence of consultants on interview panels, candidates should have a minimum qualification of specialist registration. “At least this will guarantee candidates of a certain level,” he said.

A statement from the RCSI last night said failure to set specialist registration as the minimum standard for consultant appointments, meant it was possible any of those appointed will be “unable to act as trainers for the next generation of surgical trainees”.

“Such a flawed process, especially if continued, could create dysfunctional departments of surgery offering a lesser standard of care for patients in an environment unfit for training.”

However a statement from the Medical Council said the requirements for the new posts were “consistent with requirements advertised over the last few years”.

“The Medical Council notes that the new Medical Practitioners Act will make it essential that doctors in specialist practice are registered in the specialist division of the Medical Register. The advertisements in question and the requirements listed must be interpreted in this context. The Medical Council is in ongoing consultation with the Health Service Executive on this issue,” the statement said.

Prof Tanner said surgeon trainees (approximately 30) had advised the college they would not be applying for the new posts because they believed the new contracts were “anti-patient”.