Medical Council warmly welcomes publication of the NCHD Taskforce Report and Recommendations
Wednesday, 7th February 2024: The Medical Council has warmly welcomed the publication of the NCHD Taskforce Report and Recommendations, which have been published today. This comprehensive report addresses longstanding issues faced by non-consultant hospital doctors (NCHDs) and provides practical and supportive recommendations aimed at improving their quality of life and training opportunities.
Dr Suzanne Crowe, President of the Medical Council said, "Today is an important day for the future of medicine in Ireland. The recommendations from the NCHD Taskforce are practical, supportive and will make a meaningful difference to the quality of life of our NCHDs.
“The recommendations in this report address many of the issues the Medical Council has highlighted over recent years in our research reports such as our Medical Workforce Intelligence reports and Your Training Counts reports. NCHDs are the backbone of the medical workforce in our hospitals. These recommendations, accepted by the Minister today, will enhance training pathways and opportunities with greater flexibility to reflect real-life demands and work-life balance."
Mr Leo Kearns, Medical Council CEO and member of the Taskforce, added, "This report and the recommendations contained address issues NCHDs have been facing for many years. It marks a significant step in improving the quality of life of doctors, which in turn will help will doctor retention, recruitment and ultimately benefit patients of Ireland.
“I’d like to acknowledge the leadership of Prof Anto O’Regan who chaired the taskforce and the dedication and commitment of the membership to address these important issues, and the Minister for his commitment to the implementation of these recommendations.”
“The Medical Council welcomes the recommendation to address these pressing matters and looks forward to working with all relevant stakeholders to ensure successful implementation.”
The Medical Council maintains the Register of Medical Practitioners - the register of all doctors who are legally permitted to undertake medical work in Ireland. The Council also sets the standards for medical education and training in Ireland. It oversees lifelong learning and skills development throughout doctors' professional careers through its professional competence requirements. It is charged with promoting good medical practice. The Medical Council is also where the public may make a complaint against a doctor.