Doctors suffering morale crisis

ALMOST one-third of non-consultant hospital doctors (NCHDs) would not choose medicine again if they had a choice.

The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) has blamed a crisis in morale and poor manpower planning by the HSE for junior doctors travelling abroad to complete specialist training.

“While the HSE has attributed the problem to a worldwide shortage of NCHDs, the IMO has repeatedly highlighted that it is a retention rather than a recruitment issue,” said the IMO’s assistant director of industrial relations, Shirley Coulter, yesterday.