Doctors asked to re-join the Register as part of COVID-19 Response

Medical Council launches dedicated pathway for Doctors re-joining the register for COVID-19

Wednesday, 18th March 2020: The Medical Council has today launched a dedicated pathway for doctors to re-join the Medical Council register of medical practitioners as part of the national COVID-19 response.

A call was made yesterday for all healthcare professionals from all disciplines who are not already working in the public health service to register with the HSE to be “On call for Ireland”.

Doctors who are re-joining the register for this purpose will have all registration fees waived.

President of the Medical Council, Dr Rita Doyle, said “I am calling on my colleagues, be they recently retired, working in areas outside of clinical practise or working or studying abroad to assist with the national response to COVID-19.”

“There are so many roles and positions available within our health service that doctors who are no longer on the register can fulfil.

From working in our hospitals, to out of hours services or triaging remotely over the phone and many more. Now is the time to step forward.”

“To my colleagues who have given there lives to caring for their patients and are now enjoying a well-earned and deserved retirement I ask you, if well enough to do so, to step forward once more and use your skills and experience at this time when your country needs you.”

“To my colleagues in other areas of work or to colleagues working abroad, if your situation allows you, you would be most welcome home at this time.”

“The Medical Council is here to support you to get back onto the medical register for the purposes of responding to the pressures brought to our health service by COVID-19.”

“In over 30 years of clinical practise as a doctor I have never been more proud of the medical profession and our entire health service than I am now,” concluded Dr Doyle.

Medical Council CEO, Bill Prasifka, said “The Medical Council has today launched a fast track system to restore doctors to the medical register who were previously registered with us. This will allow doctors who are returning to medicine in Ireland as part of the national response to COVID-19 gain speedy registration and to take up roles in the HSE.”

“Our Registration Team has been working around the clock to get this process in place in partnership with the Department of Health and the HSE.”

“All normal registration fees for doctor restoring their registration in response to COVID-19 have been waived and the process is being fast-tracked.”

“Once a doctor is back on the Register they can visit hse.ie/oncall and where they will find the most appropriate role for them and their personal circumstances,” concluded Mr Prasifka.

ENDS