Medical Council concern over EU doctor competency testing

CONCERN has been expressed by the president of the Medical Council that the regulatory body cannot test the competence of doctors coming from other EU countries to work in Ireland.

Council president Professor Kieran Murphy was speaking after an inquiry found that a junior doctor from Romania, who could not take a patient’s pulse while working at Letterkenny General Hospital, Co Donegal, was guilty of poor professional performance.

Prof Murphy said there was concern about the doctor’s regulatory body being precluded from testing the competence of doctors qualifying in another EU country.

The Irish Patients’ Association (IPA) has called on the council to investigate how the doctor was appointed as a senior house officer at Letterkenny.

IPA chairman Stephen McMahon said it was also seeking assurances from the Health Service Executive that it had conducted a review of the patients the doctor took care of before she left the hospital.

Prof Murphy said the council was unable to test the competence of doctors who qualify within the EU.

He said doctors applying for registration with council had that applicants had to provide a certified copy of their qualifications and a certificate of good standing to show that they had no disciplinary history.

Prof Murphy said Health Minister James Reilly, had told them that efforts were being made to address the issue.