IrishMedicalNews

HSE may reconfigure some NCHD hospital posts

Written by Lloyd Mudiwa Friday, 13 November 2009 15:13

| Print | E-mail

News

The HSE is considering reconfiguring some of its approved NCHD posts into GP training posts in time for the next student intake to address a projected shortfall in GP numbers, IMN has been informed.

“There has been talk of possibly reconfiguring some of the NCHD hospital posts to GP training posts, and maybe getting them out of hospital altogether to general practice, and there may be more opportunities,” the Director of Specialist Training for General Practice, TCD/HSE Vocational Training Scheme, Prof Fergus O’Kelly, told IMN.

“It’s hopeful that there could be quite a number of places,” he said.

The HSE had not responded to queries on the issue at the time of going to press, but Health Minister Mary Harney in a recent Parliamentary Question reply confirmed the HSE is in discussions with the ICGP regarding the scope for increasing the 120 GP training places currently available, and identifying “a mechanism for upskilling long-term locums or assistants who are currently not eligible for GMS contracts”.

The HSE is already working towards reducing the number of NCHDs by abolishing two NCHD posts for every new consultant appointment.

Prof O’Kelly mentioned: “You can see from the figures [on GP manpower] from the ESRI and FÁS reports that you would probably need 150 to 160 training places so they need to increase by 30 to 40 places in order to address the shortage in the short-term.”

He said the changes would have to happen before the end of the year, and added that GPs might be expected to play a bigger role in chronic diseases when training is extended.