HOSPITALS would lose the services of newly qualified medical school graduates as full time working doctors under the proposals for radical reform of medical education published by the Medical Council yesterday.
This would have considerable and manpower implications for hospitals and would require an increase in the number consultants and university staff, according to the council's discussion document.
Under the proposals, newly trained doctors would spend one third of their time in education and training rather than on rostered hospital work and the "intern" year would be incorporated into the undergraduate medical degree.
Prof Patrick Finnegan, chairman of the council's education, committee, said at a press briefing yesterday that the doctors should be known as "student doctors" rather than "interns", their hospital duties would be performed only under the supervision of senior doctors and they would be paid considerably less than at present for their "work experience".
Prof J. S. Doyle, president of the council, said that it was a breach of regulations for graduates to work in the intern year except under the supervision of senior doctors, as they were note yet registered.
At present, there was "inadequate supervision". Asked if this meant that patients were at risk, Prof Doyle said that it was not acceptable to the Medical Council "that any junior doctors should have to work excessive hours and be put in a situation of having to make important decisions and perhaps make simple errors or blunders due to tiredness or lack of sleep".
The financial implications of the plan are to be discussed with the Department of Health and the Higher Education Authority.
The Medical Council confirmed the report in The Irish Times on Tuesday that it was recommending abolition of the "pre med" year, that it wanted the medical degree course reduced from six years to five and the entry requirement raised to two higher science subjects.
Prof Finnegan said: "We are hoping for a concerted approach from all the colleges on this. They have been very supportive. We hope that the changes will take place gradually through consultation.
The proposals for a radical overhaul of undergraduate medical training were needed because there was a "factual overload" in the present curriculum.