Harney confirms continuous training plan for doctors

The Tánaiste and Minister for Health Mary Harney has confirmed that doctors will have to undergo continuous training and education so their skills are maintained and improved.

The Minister has revealed that she will publish details of a new Medical Practitioners Bill in the summer with the expectation that the measures will be passed by the Oireachtas by the end of the year.

The current legislation has remained unchanged since 1978.

The Medical Council has been demanding a new system to be set up to regulate doctors. Council president Dr John Hillary has welcomed the proposals to modernise the legislation.

"The current system is reactive rather than proactive, so we have to wait until something happens before we can intervene," he said.

"We need to be able to step in early when doctors are running into problems rather than waiting until their careers are at risk or their patients are at risk."