Sir, – My daughter and her husband belong to the generation which graduated in the recession of 2008, and in order for both to be employed, went to New Zealand, where my daughter passed through the long and rigorous training to become a consultant. Imagine our delight when they decided to return to Ireland. What a bonus it should be for our health system to have excellent young doctors with experience of a single-tier functioning health system in a country (a similar size to Ireland) where first-class medical care is offered without any doctor working dangerously long hours – it is just the kind of input we need!
Her career is very important to her but she also recognises, as many parents do, the importance of early childhood and would like to work less than full time for a few years.
This is the norm in most other countries and in the UK where many of the doctors she trained with enjoy the flexible family-friendly working that the HSE has never heard of.
It claims a shortage of doctors. It is scandalous that taxpayers’ money is being spent on a recruitment drive in South Africa (the morality of which is very questionable) when there are plenty of doctors ready and willing to work here if those wishing to work less than full time (for less money) or who trained elsewhere were not excluded.
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My daughter has started to investigate opportunities abroad. I will be so sorry if she becomes yet another doctor driven out of Ireland because politicians will not demand that the HSE joins the 21st century – not after yet another reorganisation – today. – Yours, etc,
ALISON GRAHAM
DOOLAGH,
Stamullen,
Co Dublin.