Sir, – As paediatric trainees we support the statement by emergency medicine trainees and Dr Leo Lawler (September 20th) regarding new consultant posts. Currently there are just 141 practising paediatricians (6 per cent of the total consultant workforce) to care for approximately one quarter of our nation’s population. The Irish training pathway to becoming a paediatrician is one of the longest in the world. This pathway leads to training overseas by necessity, not choice, in international centres of excellence to bring back the very best expertise to the children of Ireland.
Senior trainees or thirtysomething “junior doctors” have witnessed the Government and media’s approach of vilification of consultants. These professionals have undergone long and difficult training, often requiring great personal sacrifice.
They care, advocate and battle for children on a daily basis in a setting of ongoing cuts to services.
There will almost certainly be an exodus of senior Irish paediatric trainees in response to the recent government proposals to unilaterally and disproportionately reduce the salaries of new entrants. We believe that it is a reasonable expectation that dedicated and highly trained new consultant appointees be remunerated in a commensurate and fair manner. We recognise our country’s financial situation and are happy to have contributed our fair share thus far. The efforts by the embattled Minister for Health to pander to populist opinion and cut newly appointed consultant salaries will result in an emigration of a generation of doctors and a lowering of the standard of care for the children of this country. – Yours, etc,