Accreditation of Medical Training in Ireland
The Medical Council has a statutory role to set the standards for medical education and training in Ireland. The Council is obliged under section 88 of the Medical Practitioners Act 2007 to inspect all sites where intern and specialist training are provided. A system of inspections and reviews has been put in place to assess and monitor adherence to standards laid down by the council.
The Council has developed structures to oversee the accreditation of medical education and training in the following areas:
Undergraduate Education
Clinical Training sites delivering Intern and Specialist Training
Postgraduate Medical Education and Training
In the case of Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore, our hospital group was inspected in late 2018. The council determined that intern and specialist training should continue in this hospital.
Organization of Medical Education and Training in Ireland
Undergraduate medical education is provided by the six medical schools in Ireland. Entrants enter medical school through the CAO process or via graduate entry. On graduation, a compulsory intern year is administered by means of six intern networks based around each medical school in conjunction with the NDTP.
After internship, doctors have the option of training in multiple specialties. Postgraduate training is delivered by the medical postgraduate training bodies who are accredited by the Medical Council. In most specialties, doctors undergo a period of basic specialty training involving exposure to different areas of medical practice in that field followed by a period of advanced training in their chosen speciality or sub-specialty. Doctors remain on the Trainee Specialist Division of the Medical Council Register from internship to completion of specialist training. Successful completion of advanced training allows independent practice as a specialist and entry onto the Specialist Division of the Medical Council Register. Further information on medical education and specialty choices can be found at www.medicalcouncil.ie/education/speciality-options.
Doctors who have completed internship but are not in recognised training posts are entered in the General Division of the Medical Council Register. Doctors on both the specialist and general divisions are obliged to demonstrate continuing professional development (CPD) by means of professional competence schemes. This requires evidence of completion of 50 hours of continuing professional development activity per year spread across internal (maintenance of knowledge and skills), external (practice evaluation and development), personal learning and research/teaching categories. In addition, each doctor is expected to complete one clinical audit per year.
Postgraduate Education and Training MRHT 