Consultants warn over further drop in doctor numbers

HOSPITAL consultants have warned a further drop in doctors from next July will undermine the safety of public health services and impact on how patients are treated.

Over the weekend, following a meeting of the national council of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA), the group expressed its grave concerns at the potential shortfall of a further 400 non-consultant hospital doctors (NCHDs) from next July, a reduction which, it pointed out, had been confirmed by the HSE.

“We have already seen a steady and significant decline in NCHD numbers in the past 12-18 months with hundreds of positions already not being filled,” a spokesperson for IHCA said. “The HSE is also experiencing difficulties in retaining and recruiting hospital consultants. Any further decline in medical staffing will undermine the safety of the public health services and its capacity to treat patients. These much sought after doctors are now working in other countries where their talents are more valued or are simply retiring early.”