Blog: Spotlight on GP Intern Posts: Building the Future of General Practice

The intern year is an essential part of a doctor’s training. It bridges the transition from starting out as a medical student to becoming an independent practitioner. An intern is a medical doctor who has completed their medical degree and is registered to practice medicine in supervised training posts. The intern year is an essential step in every doctor’s career. Internship is normally of 12 months duration during which the intern trains in clinical practice and spends time in different clinical placements across a range of specialties

Each year, newly qualified doctors in Ireland commence their intern year. As the regulatory body for doctors, the Medical Council conducts inspections of new General Practice intern training sites. These site visits are conducted by assessors who engage with interns and supervisors and review facilities and training supports to ensure the highest standards of supervision, education, and professional development.

Through site inspections, the assessor team reviews compliance with intern training standards and guidelines required for awarding the Certificate of Experience. This certificate is issued by the Medical Council upon successful completion of the internship programme.

Among the many options for placements, GP rotations are widely regarded among interns and trainers as rewarding and impactful experiences.

Who Are GP Internships For?

Any medical graduate can apply to undertake a GP internship in their intern year, regardless of whether they plan to specialise in General Practice or hospital-based medicine. The exposure helps interns to appreciate the central role of General Practitioners (GPs) in Ireland’s health system and often inspires them to consider a future career as a GP in Ireland.

A Day in the Life of a GP Intern

GP interns play a key role in patient care. Their daily work often includes:

• Seeing patients under supervision
• Learning to build patient relationships over time
• Gaining insight into care before and after hospital stays
• Observing a wide variety of medical presentations, from acute cases to chronic disease management
• Contributing to practice audits, research, or teaching medical students

The placements last three months, and interns consistently describe them as positive, supportive, and eye-opening experiences.

Testimonials

Since 2023, the Medical Council has inspected and approved 19 GP intern sites. In that time, we have heard from both inspection teams as well as the interns themselves. Both parties have been consistently impressed with the quality of GP intern placements. Some examples of feedback received is included below:

Our inspection teams meet with GP's and GP interns participating in the intern programme and we asked them to share their top insights with us. A snapshot of these comments are included below.

•  “Across the country, from Dublin to rural areas, we saw remarkable commitment from GP supervisors and teams. Interns spoke warmly about their clinical learning, research opportunities, and integration into the practice team. Despite the challenges, the value of expanding these posts is clear – for interns and for the health service as a whole.”

• “Interns were only weeks post-graduation yet already thriving in their routines thanks to strong supervision and tailored learning programmes. These posts were oversubscribed, reflecting their popularity. Expansion of GP rotations is essential, with proper central support to encourage more practices to take part.”

• “This has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my seven years on the Medical Council. The enthusiasm of GPs and their teams is remarkable, and the impact on interns is clear – they leave with new skills, confidence, and in many cases, a desire to pursue GP training.”

The most powerful endorsements come from interns themselves, so we asked some recent GP interns to share their experiences with us and have included some of the top comments below.

Interested in getting Involved?

GP intern placements not only benefit interns but also strengthen the wider healthcare system. They expose young doctors to the breadth of general practice, highlight the importance of continuity of care, and encourage future recruitment into a specialty vital to Ireland’s healthcare needs.

GPs across the country continue to provide these opportunities out of a deep commitment to training the next generation of doctors. With greater support and expansion, more interns could benefit from this invaluable experience. The Medical Council is committed to working with GP practices, supervisors, and stakeholders to support and promote the expansion of GP intern posts.

If you are an intern doctor interested in GP as a specialty, you can learn more through the Irish College of GP’s “Become a GP” campaign.