Almost half of our trainee doctors could move abroad

NEARLY half of trainee doctors have cited working conditions and poor work/life balance as reasons why they are considering emigrating.

A research paper published yesterday into Ireland’s haemorrhage of newly qualified doctors showed up high levels of dissatisfaction among trainees.

Academics in the Royal College of Surgeons polled 524 doctors who were currently enrolled or had recently completed postgraduate training in Ireland. Of these, 84% were Irish and 81% were still in the country, while 100 had already left.

Of those who remained in Ireland, 22% either ‘definitely’ or ‘probably’ did not see themselves practising medicine in Ireland for the foreseeable future, while a further 22% were undecided.

Just 18% said that they were definitely staying in the country.

Canada, the UK and Australia were the most popular destinations for trainees who were considering moving abroad. Of those who were either undecided or were probably or definitely intending to leave, 38% said they were unlikely to return.

Worryingly, the survey also revealed that 64% of participants reported having been bullied by other staff while working as trainee doctors in this country.

The researchers concluded: ‘Largescale dissatisfaction with working, training and career opportunities point to systemic factors that need to be addressed by health workforce planners if Ireland is to retain and benefit from a motivated medical workforce, given trainees’ perceptions that there are better opportunities abroad.’

The paper was published in the Human Resources For Health Journal.

Professor Ruairí Brugha, who led the research, said: ‘The chronic haemorrhage of doctors will continue as long as we undervalue them. We’ll continue to lose those who are the lifeblood of our health system.’