Trainee doctors barely out of medical school are being asked to perform duties above their grade, are subject to bullying and inadequate supervision, and given poor feedback about their progress, according to a series of Medical Council reports on clinical training in nine hospitals.

SOME hospital services may still be curtailed or cancelled next month despite the Health Service Executive’s (HSE) belated decision on the number of specialist training places for qualified doctors, medical consultants have warned.

ACTION is being taken to avoid cuts in hospital services next month resulting from a shortage of frontline doctors, Health Minister Mary Harney has claimed.