HSE changes to filling internships lead to claims of bias

Changes to the way hundreds of medical intern posts in hospitals are filled have led to allegations of bias from non Irish-educated students. Earlier this month, the HSE changed the criteria used to select medical graduates to fill more than 700 intern posts in Irish hospitals each year. The internship year is the first stage of postgraduate training for doctors after medical school.

Previously, interns were chosen on the basis of their performance in final-year medical exams, although EU students were prioritised over those from outside the EU. Under the new system, students who entered medical school through the CAO will be given priority over students who accepted a place directly from their medical school, regardless of academic performance.

The decision has angered students on graduate entry courses who were educated outside the EU, many of whom pay fees of more than €40,000 a year.

"It means a 23-year-old who entered via the CAO and who barely passed their exams, would rank higher and claim a better intern position than the person who ranked first in class in graduate entry, who is aged 25+ and who may have another degree and previous employment," one student told The Irish Times.

This student has Irish citizenship, an honours science degree, research experience and is ranked in the top 10 in his class. “Despite all of this, I am unlikely to get an intern position, or at least, the intern position I aspire for.

“This is because the HSE has chosen not to prioritise academic achievement and qualifications, but is instead prioritising nationality and where someone attended secondary school.” He added: “For any other job applications, this would be unheard of.”

Another student claimed the HSE and colleges were “donning the green jersey” to get students who entered medical school directly “off the pitch”.

The HSE said the change was introduced following consultation with the Department of Health. "In the setting of a limited number of intern posts, this will ensure that all State-funded graduates may obtain full registration with the Medical Council, " a spokesman said. "They may then enter the training system and the health service workforce in Ireland."

The medical schools said they play no role in the selection process applied to their graduates in selecting internship positions and had no role in the changes in eligibility introduced this month.

"The process is operated by their potential employer, namely the HSE. It has statutory responsibilities for setting and approving qualifications for appointments to all HSE posts," said Prof Mike Larvin, head of the University of Limerick graduate entry medical school and current chair of the Councils of Deans of Faculties with Medical Schools in Ireland.

Asked if UL – which is the sole graduate entry-only medical school in the State – had no view on the changes, Prof Larvin said this was not a “valid interpretation” of its views. “Should we have concerns over any matter affecting the employment of our graduates, then of course we’d pursue these directly with the employer directly.”