Medical Interns 2017

Additional Information Contents: Reform of the Intern Year  Reform of the Intern Year (p1) Government policy on undergraduate Reform of the Intern Year continues to  Principle Reforms (p1) medical education and postgraduate be jointly implementedP r i n c iby p athe l R Healthe fo r m s  Intern Training medical education and training is set out Service Executive (HSE), the Intern Networks (p2) in the “Fottrell” and “Buttimer” reports Training Networks, the Medical  Clinical Sites (p3) (available: www.doh.ie) Council, the Medical Schools, the  Intern Training Postgraduate Medical Training Bodies, Programmes (p4)

The National Committee on Medical hospital medical workforce  Induction (p5) Education and Training (NCMET) was management, and individual hospital  Employment Contracts established to oversee implementation of and community services. (p5) the recommendations in these reports. In Implementation reports have been  Progression Through 2008, the NCMET made a series of published by the HSE detailing Training and Sign-Off (p5) recommendations for reform of the Intern progress to date.

Year (report available: www.hse.ie). These reports are available at:

Many of the recommendations of the www.hse.ie/eng/services/publications NCMET Report have been implemented. /corporate/etr .

Principal Reforms

The principal reforms to intern training which have been implemented include:

● The establishment of intern training networks and the appointment of Intern Network Coordinators ● The development of a National Intern Training programme for internship ● The introduction of a modular structure and new specialties to the intern year ● The establishment of a national application system and matching system for intern posts ● The introduction of a Training Agreement between Intern Training Networks and interns ● The development of e-learning modules to enhance interns’ on-site clinical training ● The standardisation of assessment forms ● The introduction of Service Level Agreements for the support of intern training.

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Intern Training Networks

There are six Intern Training Networks, each based around Intern Network Coordinators are also expected to meet an existing Medical School. Intern posts are structured so requirements set by the Medical Council in relation to that all modules take place within a single intern network. intern training and sign-off, in order to satisfy the

Council’s criteria for granting a Certificate of Experience. Each Intern Network is led by an Intern Network Medical Council guidelines on this area are available at: Coordinator who is a consultant doctor with educational www.medicalcouncil.ie

experience. This appointment is made by the Medical School in each Network and is supported by the HSE. The Intern Networks bring together, as required, representatives from all parties involved in the in- tern

The Intern Network Coordinator is responsible for year, including postgraduate training bodies, intern organizing and overseeing intern training within their tutors, Clinical Directors, the medical schools, local

network and ensuring the provision of appropriate, medical manpower managers and representatives from agreed educational programmes for interns. The Intern clinical sites. Network Coordinators are collaborating collectively and

collaboratively through the Intern Networks Executive All intern posts are aligned on a geographical basis within and with the HSE on a national basis to ensure Intern Training Networks. Considerations such as health consistency across the Networks. service reform and the changing roles of some hospitals

are taken into account in the distribution of intern posts.

The six Intern Training Networks:

West / Northwest (NUIG)

Dublin / Northeast (RCSI)

Dublin / Mid-Leinster (UCD)

Dublin / Southeast (TCD)

South (UCC)

Mid-West (UL)

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Clinical Sites

Intern Training Linked Medical School Hospitals / Clinical Sites in Network 2012 Network West / National University of Ire- ● University College Hospital Galway ● Portiuncula Hospital Northwest land, Galway ● Merlin Park Hospital ● Roscommon General Hospital

● Letterkenny General Hospital ● Sligo General Hospital

● Mayo General Hospital ● General Practice, Donegal & Galway

Dublin / Northeast Royal College of Surgeons in ● Beaumont Hospital ● Waterford RH (exception, given RCSI Ireland training affiliations with site) ● ● Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital ● Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda ● General Practice, Dublin

● Temple Street University Hospital ● General Practice, Waterford

Dublin / University College Dublin ● Mater Misericordiae Hospital ● Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar Mid-Leinster ● St. Vincent’s Hospital, Elm Park ● Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore

● St. Columcille’s Hospital ● Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise

● General Practice, Dublin & Wicklow ● St. Michael’s Hospital

● Temple Street University Hospital ● Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital ● Highfield ● St. Vincent’s Hospital, Fairview ● St. Vincent’s Hospital/Holles St. Psych Unit Dublin / Southeast Trinity College Dublin ● St. James’s Hospital ● St. Luke’s GH Kilkenny

● AMiNCH Tallaght Hospital ● Wexford General Hospital

● ● General Practices, Dublin ● Linn Dara, Palmerstown South University College Cork ● ● South Tipperary Clonmel

● Mercy University Hospital ● Bons Secours (private)

● General Practice, Mallow ●

● Kerry General Hospital ●

● South Infirmary-Victoria University Hospital ● St. Stephen’s Hospital, Glanmire ● General Practice, Mallow & Mitchelstown Mid-West University of Limerick ● University Hospital Limerick ● General Practice, Ennis

● St. John’s Hospital Limerick

Note: the above list represents the current clinical sites where intern training takes place; these sites may change and other

clinical sites may be added for intern training in advance of intern post details being finalized, subject to approval by the Department of Health.

Intern training is provided in over 50 acute hospitals, specialist hospitals and General

Practices in Ireland 3 3

Intern Training Progr amme

The National Intern Training Programme (NI TP) All intern training provided must be in line with the NITP, although the precise content of the for Education and Training in the Intern Year was initially devised by the Intern Net- work educational elements will vary across individual Coordinators, building on previously published Networks. Examples of training that may be Medical Council guidelines for intern provided include grand rounds, journal clubs, competencies and was approved by the Medical multidisciplinary case presentations, “Human

Council in May 2011. Training is now delivered in Factors” training, and specialty / topic- specific line with this Programme. study days.

Online learning modules have been developed, The HSE has formal Service Level Agreements in which complement the on-site training provided place with the Universities/Medical Schools for to interns in hospitals and general practices. A the provision of intern training. The Intern range a modules will be available for interns Training Programme is led by the Intern Network commencing in July 2016. In addition, an e- Coordinator in each Network. portfolio is under development, which will allow interns to record their training and experience and Each intern will be required to sign a Training will allow trainers to sign-off on intern training. Agreement, which sets out the training that will be provided to the intern by their Network and All Intern Training Networks must provide clinical the intern’s responsibilities, such as minimum skills training, life support training and formal attendance rates. educational events.

Intern Training Posts

Intern training posts will commence on July New for 2017 Intern Intake

10th 2017. Internship training must compr ise In parallel to the clinical internship posts, a minimum of 12 months, during which for the 2017 Intern intake, an academic interns must complete a minimum of three internship will be available. The academic months in each of general medicine and internship provides an opportunity for general surgery and may complete two to doctors at the beginning of their careers to four months in other specialties which have continue, or to develop de novo, research, been recognised by the Medical Council for teaching and leadership/management skills intern training. During the intern year, in addition to the competencies outlined as interns are expected to achieve the part of the National Intern Training competencies outlined by the National Intern Programme. Training Programme. Academic interns will undertake one full Details of posts available in July 2017 will be rotation (3 months) in an academic provided to applicants who are deemed internship post and then complete their eligible after Stage 1 of the application other clinical rotations as normal. process.

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Induction

A ll incoming interns are required to Those interns on the academic internship programme are also c omplete a mandatory induction course prior to commencement of expected to attend the mandatory e mployment. The induction course will induction provided by their clinical o rdinarily take place at the location of site. the intern’s first training module or another specified site within the Intern

Training Network.

The duration of the induction course, which may be up to two weeks, depends on the clinical site to which the intern has been allocated. Following assignment to a post, successful applicants will be notified of the time and location of the induction course.

E m p l o y m e n t C o n t ra c t

Interns will receive the Contract of The required clearanc es will be The total duration of internships Employment for Non-Consultant notified to the success ful applicant commencing in July 2017 will be 12 Hospital Doctors. The contract will be by the employing authority when th th month, from July 10 2017 to July 9 provided by the employing authority the offer of employment is made. 2018. Interns should return their signed after the applicant has successfully In some cases, where an individual contract to their employer. been allocated to an intern post and intern is employed by more than received an offer of employment one employing authority (e.g. a from the employing authority, voluntary hospital and a HSE subject to relevant satisfactory hospital), separate contracts may be clearances. issued.

P r o g r e s s i o n t h r o u g h t r a i n i n g & S i g n - o ff

T he Intern Training Programme for If the Intern Training Network inform the employer and/or the HSE po sts commencing July 2017 is for a considers that an intern’s progress in and/or the Medical Council of any de fined period of 12 months and the programme is unsatisfactory, the concerns regarding the intern’s in terns will be employed in each intern may be required to undertake continued practice. training rotation for a finite period. additional training or assessment.

Interns are expected to complete Additional training will usually be their training within this period. The Failure to meet these additional required to be undertaken within the Intern Training Network is required to requirements may result in removal period of the rotation or a subsequent ensure that all interns under their from the Intern training programme scheduled rotation. If a recommendation remit are progressing in a manner and/or employment for additional training remains upon which ensures patient safety and may completion of the 12 month period, assign remedial action on an Where remedial training is required, applicants should note that there is no individual basis. the Intern Training Network will commitment to employment beyond the standard 12 month period. Such

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matters will be handled on a case-by- The Medical Council (of Ireland) is case basis and are subject to statutorily responsible for granting agreement from the Employer. Certificates of Experience to medical practitioners who have successfully In such circumstances, interns may be completed a period of internship. assigned to a different training site Information on the criteria and process and/or different specialty areas. The for the sign-off of the intern year usual contractual arrangements will Certificate of Experience are available apply in relation to employment from the Medical Council at matters. Applicants should consult www.medicalcouncil.ie. the NCHD Contract 2010, on http://www.hse.ie/eng/staff/Jobs/Job _Search/Medical_Dental/nchd/Interns / for more information on employment matters.

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