Junior doctor: NCHDs don't see future in Ireland

The issue of overworked junior doctors is again coming under the spotlight, as the latest batch of NCHD's complete their first fortnight in their new jobs.

The issue of patient safety is often raised as so many people are treated by junior doctors who, in some cases, have been working for 36 hours.

Dr Doug Mulholland works as a junior doctor at Dublin's Mater hospital and says the challenges facing his colleagues in Ireland make it easy to see why so many quit the country.

"The anecdotal experience of leaving after that intern year and going away to Australia or the UK or to New Zealand, doctors are looking and they're saying 'I can train quicker, my terms and conditions are applied abroad and I'm treated and more respected'.

"There's a future as well. NCHD's that stay here don't really see a future."