Hundreds of new medics to emigrate in health service ‘meltdown’

HUNDREDS of newly qualified Irish-trained nurses and midwives will be forced to leave the country before the end of the year because of the “meltdown” in a health service which can no longer offer them employment.

A new report by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has claimed a major brain drain is taking place among Irish medics which is hampering the future prospects of the system – and its financial security.

According to the group, the vast majority of Ireland’s 1,600 recently qualified nurses will emigrate to find work within the next two months.