Medical Council: Just 1% of doctors on the Trainee Specialist Register enrolled in Flexible Training in 2022 – 2023

• Flexible Training can allow doctors to undertake part-time or less than full- time specialist medical training
• In some instances, Flexible Training can allow training in geographical locations more suited to a doctor’s personal circumstances while attaining the required competencies and experience

Friday 7th March 2025: Recent Medical Council data notes that just 1% of doctors in specialist training programmes availed of Flexible Training during 2022 – 2023. The Medical Council’s 2024 Quantitative Annual Returns show that uptake of Flexible Training, which can allow doctors on the Trainee Specialist Register to undertake part-time or less than full- time medical training, is consistently low.

Flexible training schemes are designed to accommodate doctors who have personal or professional commitments that make full-time training difficult. These schemes allow doctors to work less than full-time while still completing their training and progressing in their careers.

Ahead of International Women’s Day on 8th March, Medical Council President, Dr Suzanne Crowe, is today calling on doctors to support each other, as well as for established doctors to support and mentor younger doctors who wish to undertake specialist medical training.

Speaking today, Dr Crowe acknowledged the challenges faced by trainee doctors in Ireland, “I would encourage doctors in specialist training programmes to seek information on flexible options if they are struggling currently. Resources are available, but more encouragement and mentorship among doctors is also needed.

“Flexible training can be a useful option for doctors who may have caring responsibilities, who prefer to train in a part time capacity, or who desire a better work-life balance. Our research shows that doctors continue to leave the Register each year for reasons such as burnout and lack of flexibility.

“Women can bring a unique understanding of women’s health issues, paving the way for change in medicine, and helping other patients to feel safe and heard. I often speak about the fact that doctors who have familial and care priorities at home need greater flexibility and work arrangements. These are essential components in ensuring we retain our doctors in Ireland.”

The Medical Council’s 2024 Quantitative Annual Returns shows:

• Doctors’ uptake of flexible medical training is consistently low. Overall, just 1% of the total number of those in Basic Specialty Training (BST) and 6% of the total number of Higher Specialty Training (HST) doctors availed of flexible training options in 2022-2023.
• The most popular type of flexible training and leave were post reassignment requests and approved leave such as maternity, paternity, personal leave etc.
• The gender balance among doctors enrolled in programmes of specialist training in 2022-23 was quite evenly split, with slightly more females than males at both BST and HST level (54% of doctors in BST programmes were female and 46% were male; In HST, 56% of doctors were female and 44% were male).
• The figures for some individual programmes show more marked gender imbalances. In Basic Specialty Training, the majority of doctors specialising in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (87%) and Paediatrics (74%) are female. In Higher Specialty Training, female doctors are in the majority in Public Health Medicine (85%) and Obstetrics and Gynaecology (84%) while males occupied the majority in Neurosurgery (89%) and Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery (78%).

Dr Suzanne Crowe also noted the recent progress that has been made to improve equitable access to medical treatment for women, “Medicine is a caring profession, but training has historically been gendered or male focused. I’m pleased to see that this week, Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, TD led the launch of Women’s Health Week 2025, which affirms the Department of Health’s commitment to driving continued progress across all aspects of healthcare to ensure an equitable service for everyone.

“Since the launch of the first Women’s Health Action Plan three years ago, I have been pleased to see initiatives such as specialist endometriosis teams, the opening of more ambulatory gynaecology clinics, and treatments focusing on prevention and early intervention initiatives for cardiovascular and bone health, aimed at women in midlife and older. There is no one size fits all model of care, and for women to live longer, healthier lives; gender-specific healthcare is essential”, Dr Crowe concluded.

Find out more about International Women’s Day here.