Infertility Treatments for Women: A Review of the Bio-medical Evidence

Infertility Treatments for Women: A Review of the Bio-medical Evidence Click here to download PDF 1.5mb Summary of Report PDF 971kb

Strategic Review of Medical Training and Career Structure Interim Report

Click here to download Strategic Review of Medical Training and Career Structure Interim Report PDF 44kb Click here to download Strategic Review of Medical Training and Career Structure Terms of Reference PDF 59KB

Framework Agreement between the Minister for Health and the Irish Medical Organisation in respect of a process for engagement concerning the GMS/GP Contract

Minister of State with responsibility for Primary Care, Alex White TD, today (4 June 2014) concluded a series of meetings with the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) with the signing of the Framework Agreement between the Minister of Health, the HSE and the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) setting out a process for engagement concerning the GMS/GP contract and other publicly funded contracts involving General Practitioners (GPs). Download document here

Strategic Review of Medical Training and Career Structures Report on Medical Career Structures and Pathways following completion of Specialist Training

The Minister for Health decided, in July 2013, to establish a Working Group, chaired by Professor Brian MacCraith, President of DCU, to carry out a strategic review of medical training and career structure. The Working Group will examine and make high-level recommendations relating to training and career pathways for doctors with a view to: From January-April 2014, the Working Group prioritised work on career structures and pathways following completion of specialist training in order to report to the Minister for Health on these issues in this report. Download the Report (PDF, 800 kb)  

Strategic Review of Medical Training and Career Structure Final Report

  Final report of the Strategic Review Working Group chaired by Professor Brian MacCraith (President, DCU) This final report focuses on issues relating to strategic medical workforce planning and career planning and mentoring supports for trainee doctors and makes recommendations. It also addresses specific issues in relation to the specialties of public health medicine, general practice and the community-based aspects of psychiatry.   Download the report here.  

Primary medical care in Irish prisons

An industrial dispute between prison doctors and the Irish Prison Service (IPS) took place in 2004. Part of the resolution of that dispute was that an independent review of prison medical and support services be carried out by a University Department of Primary Care. The review took place in 2008 and we report here on the principal findings of that review.   This study utilised a mixed methods approach. An independent expert medical evaluator (one of the authors, DT) inspected the medical facilities, equipment and relevant custodial areas in eleven of the fourteen prisons within the IPS. Semistructured interviews took place with personnel who had operational responsibility for delivery of prison medical care. Prison doctors completed a questionnaire to elicit issues such as allocation of clinician's time, nurse and administrative support and resources available.   There was wide variation in the standard of medical facilities and infrastructure provided across the IPS. The range of medical equipment available was generally below that of the equivalent general practice scheme in the community. There is inequality within the system with regard to the ratio of doctor-contracted time relative to the size of the prison population. There is limited administrative support, with the majority of prisons not having a medical secretary. There are few psychiatric or counselling sessions available.   People in prison have a wide range of medical care needs and there is evidence to suggest that these needs are being met inconsistently in Irish prisons.This resource was contributed by The National Documentation Centre on Drug Use.

Medical Education in Ireland A New Direction - Report of the Working Group on Undergraduate Medical Education and Training

Ireland can be justly proud of the history and quality of its medical education. Graduates of Irish medical schools are accepted globally as being of international standard and many of the most eminent of Irish medical professionals have returned to Ireland after periods of distinguished service in other countries. This high international standing is reflected in the large number of North American, African and Asian students attending medical school in Ireland. Indeed, the ability of Irish medical schools to successfully compete at an international level in terms of attracting students to Ireland, and to establish a range of strategic relationships with Universities and Governments in other countries is to be commended.