First-year registrar shortage
Senator Keogan presses the Leader on the absence of first-year hospital registrars. The Leader apologises, undertakes to contact the Health Minister, and notes wider Covid-related doctor shortages.
The Leader did not deal with an issue I raised. Will she write to the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly? On 1 July, there were no registrars-----
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I beg the Senator’s pardon. I will write to the Minister.
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This is the first year I have heard of there being no first-year registrars in hospitals.
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I do not know how I missed that issue. I will write to the Minister. An interesting point I saw raised in the media during the week is that there was a massive shortage of doctors last week because of the significant increase in Covid cases that is being experienced not only in hospitals but throughout the country. That was before the changeover. Doctors were reflecting their concerns in respect of the situation last week and that was before the changeover next week. I will send a note to the Minister today. I apologise to Senator Keogan.