Irish medical school places must double

THE exodus of Irish doctors from the health service is disquieting at a time when the authorities are having difficulty recruiting GPs to work in rural areas and inner city communities.

According to the findings of the first survey of its kind in this country, almost one-in-five doctors leave the profession with no intention of returning.

Commissioned by the Government with the aim of tracking medical graduates, it gives the first accurate insight into an aspect of the health crisis which can be tackled.