Possible plans by the HSE to cut 15 of 86 intern doctors working at UHG in July are “unacceptable” while the Covid-19 pandemic continues and the vaccination rollout proves to be “slow, stilted, and confusing”.
This is the view of Sinn Féin Galway West TD, Mairéad Farrell, who has written to the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, calling on him to take action to allow doctors who were educated in Ireland to remain in the State and work as part of the health service.
“Now is not the time to cut frontline staff in our hospitals,” she wrote. “Even once a majority of the population has been vaccinated, there will be incredible pressure on the health service with the backlog that has built up over the course of the pandemic.”
.
Sinn Féin Galway West TD, Mairéad Farrell.
Dep Farrell noted that there are close to 870,000 Irish people on waiting lists for outpatient appointments, many waiting months or years to see a specialist.
“We have a recruitment and retention crisis in our hospitals,” she said. “Addressing this must start with giving new entrants a fair shot. Medical students who graduate in Ireland should be given the opportunity to work and stay in Ireland.”
